Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS ó Peyton Manning watches the last three games and sees progress.
Not perfection, but at least he and the Colts are beginning to play like their old selves.
Manning is throwing more touchdowns, fewer interceptions, avoiding sacks and winning games with his masterful play calling. He’s spreading the ball around, opening up running lanes with passes and, yes, he’s finally in sync with the receivers.
Memo to the NFL: Manning is back.
“The way they’ve played the last three weeks, it looks like Indianapolis to me,” San Diego coach Norv Turner said Wednesday. “To do what they did against Pittsburgh, I was awfully impressed with that.”
Suddenly, Manning is playing like a two-time league MVP and his team has taken the cue.
The Colts (6-4) are on a season-long three-game winning streak and have committed no turnovers during the streak.
REDSKINS
Running back Clinton Portis, who surprised himself by playing last week on a sprained knee, sat out practice Wednesday but expects to be ready for Sunday’s game against Seattle.
“Sore. It’s better than it was last week,” Portis said. “I’m playing this week, if that’s what you all want to know. No ifs, ands, buts about it, I’ll be playing.”
Portis rushed for 68 yards on 15 carries in the 14-10 loss to Dallas despite not practicing at all last week.
VIKINGS
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has been fined $25,000 for a recent spate of late hits, but he won’t be suspended.
He’s not planning to reduce his aggressiveness, either.
After his summons to NFL headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Allen returned to Winter Park to continue resting and rehabilitating his sprained right shoulder.
BROWNS
Tight end Kellen Winslow sustained a sprained right shoulder in Monday night’s win over the Buffalo Bills, an injury unlikely to keep him out for an extended period.
SEAHAWKS
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is beat up and won’t be at practice until Thursday at the earliest. Coach Mike Holmgren said his three-time Pro Bowl passer is still sore from the bashing he took last Sunday in a loss to first-place Arizona.
SAINTS
The struggling ground game took another hit when tailback Aaron Stecker was put on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season.
BENGALS
The Bengals placed receiver Antonio Chatman on injured reserve, three days after he suffered a neck injury during a 13-13 tie with the Eagles.
TITANS
Backup cornerback Eric King had surgery to repair a broken forearm. Whether the injury ends his season remains to be seen.
LIONS
The Lions signed Stuart Schweigert to add depth at safety and on special teams.