Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
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| | Dale Zanine/US Presswire |
| | The Colts expect Peyton Manning to return in four to six weeks. |
Indianapolis fans already knew the start of training camp at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., would lack significant star power with defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot) and receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) recovering from significant injuries.
Coach Tony Dungy recently said the two wouldn't be full speed until at least halfway into the preseason, though the team expects them to be ready for the regular season. Safety Bob Sanders (shoulder) is also coming back from an injury.
And now quarterback Peyton Manning will be out the next four to six weeks as he recovers from a procedure that removed an infected bursa sac from his left knee.
Even if everyone is back in action on schedule, that's four of the team's five best players and roughly 37 percent of the team's 2008 salary cap commitment.
Players report to camp on Thursday, July 24 and the team practices the next day. That's still six weeks and two days from the regular season opener Sept. 7 against Chicago -- plenty of time for plenty of healing.
After playing so much of last season without the services of Freeney and Harrison -- and the new Manning development -- the Colts may well be due for better injury mojo this fall.
