(INDIANAPOLIS, USA) - Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning underwent neck surgery on Thursday and could miss the entire NFL season as a result, the NFL club announced.
After tests and consultation with doctors, Manning underwent an anterior neck fusion that typically would take two to three months to heal and that there is no timetable for his return.
"Peyton will immediately begin the rehabilitation regimen mapped out by the surgeon," the Colts said in a statement.
The operation was the third for Manning, 35, in the past 19 months. Manning signed a five-year deal worth $90 million with the Colts in the off-season.
"The procedure is performed regularly throughout the county on persons of all walks of life, including professional football players," the Colts said.
"Rehabilitation from such surgery is typically an involved process. Therefore, there will be no estimation of a return date at this time. We will keep Peyton on the active roster until we have a clear picture of his recovery process."
Manning, who underwent neck surgery May 23 to repair a nerve but complained of back pain when he returned to practice last month, was already pulled from Sunday's season opener for the Colts at Houston.
That meant the end of his streak of 227 consecutive starts for the Colts since his 1998 debut after being taken first overall in the NFL Draft, a run second only to that of retired star Brett Favre among league quarterbacks.
Colts owner Jim Irsay posted a message on his Twitter account Thursday mentioning Manning by jersey number, saying "18's out for awhile,but compete,we will/BELIEVE."
The Colts did not place Manning on the injured reserve list, which would have opened a roster spot but also meant that Manning could not play all season.
Kerry Collins, a 38-year-old quarterback talked out of retirement to play this season, will start in place of Manning on Sunday, the first time someone other than Manning has started for Indianapolis since Jim Harbaugh in 1997.
