Peyton Manning Will Play vs. Chiefs, Aggravates Ankle Injury

Nov 10, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) sits on the turf after injuring his leg during a pass play in the closing minutes of the Broncos win over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Manning did not leave the game. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

While Chris Clark has done a pretty good job considering the player he is replacing at left tackle, there’s no denying that Peyton Manning has been hit a lot more since Clady went down and he’s hurting pretty good.

Late in the Broncos’ win against the Chargers, Manning re-injured the ankle that gave him problems all through the Broncos’ bye week, and an MRI confirmed that on Monday.

Manning was visibly upset during the game when the injury happened, he was visibly upset in the locker room, and he was visibly upset at the post-game press conference when he had to answer inevitable questions about it.

While the results of the MRI are less than encouraging for the Broncos and their fans, number 18 doesn’t miss football games unless you darn near break his neck.

“We did get good news that there was nothing additional, good results coming back,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “[Manning] will definitely play this week. So that’s good news.”

Uh, yeah.

Had Manning not played, it would have been the fourth QB the Chiefs have faced this season making their first NFL start, and that doesn’t include backup caliber players in Blaine Gabbert and Terrelle Pryor.

Manning will play vs. the Chiefs, and the NFL will get the matchup they’ve been eagerly anticipating now. The Chiefs are coming off of their bye week and will be ready to face the Broncos. The Broncos just had their bye, and should get some needed reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball with Champ Bailey and Duke Ihenacho, or hopefully at least one of those guys.