Peyton Manning Wants To Play In 2016, Even If It’s Not With Broncos

Update:

Mike Florio updates his report from last night that Peyton Manning is “absolutely determined” to play in 2016 after speaking to a separate source regarding the Broncos quarterback.

According to Florio, Manning has told his teammates that he wants to play next year.

However, it’s unknown whether Manning has told his Broncos’ teammates that he would be willing to play for another team.

Florio mentions that “it’s hardly a definite that he will play” another year in the NFL, given that Denver is unlikely to pay him his $19 million salary.

On Monday, Broncos HC Gary Kubiak said that Manning is strictly focused on getting healthy and helping the team.

“I can just tell you for there to be any rumors or anything he said that his mindset is anywhere other than getting healthy and helping this football team, I can tell you is totally false,” Kubiak said. “I visit with this guy on a regular basis and we talk all the time. I can tell you his mindset is a day at a time trying to get healthy and all those things and help his football [team]. That’s all he talks to me about. That’s all that’s important to him right now. That’s disappointing. There are going to be things out there and things said, but I know what’s going on. I know how hard he is working to get back and help his football team.”

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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that while many have said that veteran QB Peyton Manning is likely to retire next year, Manning is “absolutely determined” to play in 2016, even if it’s for a team other than the Broncos.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, seeing as many have expected to Manning to walk away next year and possible take a front office role. Florio admits that a lot would have to happen before Manning would be willing to consider playing for another team.

However, if the right situation came about, Florio doesn’t believe it’s crazy to think Manning could catch on with a new team.

According to Florio, Manning believes he’ll suit up again in 2016, despite the fact that he’s dealing with a number of injuries including a partially torn plantar fascia and a rib injury.

Manning’s goal reportedly isn’t just to get healthy enough to return to game action, but he wants to get back to where he was prior to their disappointing loss to the Chiefs.

Indications have been that the Broncos are likely to keep Brock Osweiler in place as their starting quarterback for Week 12, and buy Manning more time to recover.

Although, HC Gary Kubiak was non-committal about who the starter will next week.

“I knew that was coming,” Kubiak said, via Pro Football Talk. “Here’s the deal: We got healthier here today. We’ve got some guys on this team that we’re trying to get healthy, so that’s important. And we won our eighth game. So we’re going to focus on winning today and enjoy winning and we’ll go back to work next week.”

Manning, 39, is in the fourth year of his five-year, $96 million contract that included $18 million guaranteed. He’ll make base salaries of $15 million in 2015 and another $19 million next year.

On the season, Manning has thrown for 2,180 yards while completing 59.9 percent of his passes to go along with nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

We’ll have more regarding Manning’s future as the news is available.