Eli and Peyton Manning at a New York Yankees game in 2014. (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Peyton isn’t the only Manning to deal with torn plantar fascia. Eli Manning fully tore the plantar fascia in his right foot in 2009, with his Giants 4-0 at the time. His options then were simple: play through the pain or don’t play at all.
Eli took the first option and played all 16 games, but the Giants finished 8-8 and Eli recently said he needed “a few weeks” to heal.
The difference: Eli fully tore his plantar fascia, which sounds worse but is actually less painful than the partially torn plantar fascia Peyton is dealing with in his left foot.
Last Sunday, following the worst game of Peyton’s career, details of his latest injuries were revealed. The foot that had been bothering him for a few weeks was reaggravated when he played on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 15 sacks he’s sustained this season have also led to rib soreness.
The bruises can only be expected midway through the season but are more concerning given Peyton’s age and the crossroads the Broncos face with their quarterbacks.
Coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday that Brock Osweiler will get his first NFL start Sunday at Chicago as Peyton recovers, creating questions for both his and the team’s future.
On Tuesday, as speculation grew, Eli weighed in on his older brother’s injury and predicament.
“Mine was a full tear,” of his foot injury in ’09. “I don’t know what a partial tear feels like. I talked to him a little bit about it. Hopefully he’ll figure out a way to feel as good as he can and get a plan for getting back to playing the way he knows how to play.”
Kubiak said Monday there is no timetable for Peyton’s return; it will depend on his progress in recovery.
“He’ll be fine,” Eli said. “He’ll bounce back and hopefully get healthy. And hey, they’re in a good spot. They’re 7-2. I’d take 7-2 with one four-interception game at this point.”
