Indianapolis, IN – The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to retired quarterback Kerry Collins in a potential signal that Peyton Manning might not be ready to start the season as he recovers from neck surgery.
Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted the Collins move on Wednesday.
Collins, who quarterbacked the New York Giants to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season and spent the past five years in Tennessee, had announced his retirement on July 7.
The 38-year-old veteran could be pressed into duty to start the season because of Manning's uncertainty. Manning has never missed a game in his 13 seasons with the Colts, but he has not recovered sufficiently from a neck procedure for a disk-related issue performed on May 23.
Curtis Painter has started the first two preseason games for the Colts, who open the regular season on September 11 against AFC South rival Houston. He has completed 8-of-16 passes for 95 yards with an interceptions in the first two preseason outings.
The other quarterbacks on the current roster are Dan Orlovsky and Mike Hartline.
Collins has thrown for 40,441 yards with 206 touchdowns and 195 interceptions in a career that began in 1995 after he was selected by Carolina with the fifth overall pick of that year's draft. He's also played for Oakland and New Orleans in addition to his time with the Panthers, Giants and Titans.
The Penn State product appeared in 10 games last season for Tennessee, starting seven, and threw for 1,823 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
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