Heck, the Colts coach said he thinks Manning might even play during the presesason.

On Tuesday, Dungy said he was optimistic the Colts’ biggest question heading into training camp—Manning’s valuable knee—could be resolved quicker than most people expect. Manning had surgery last week to remove an infected bursa sac, a procedure doctors said would require four to six weeks to heal.

Typically, Dungy defers to the medical experts on injury matters, but the Colts’ Super Bowl-winning coach knows Manning well enough to realize keeping Manning off the field for six weeks may be tougher than the rehab process.

“I have talked to Peyton and we’re just following the doctors instructions right now,” Dungy said. “I’m hoping for four weeks, but if he’s truly out six weeks, I think it will be hard to keep him out. However it goes, he’ll be ready when he comes back.”

Manning has not spoken publicly since having surgery last Tuesday and is expected to take questions Thursday when the Colts report to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.

Over the past decade Manning has earned a reputation as one of the league’s best and most durable quarterbacks. He has started all 160 regular-season games in his 10-year career, the second-longest streak of any quarterback in NFL history behind Brett Favre’s record of 253. Manning has never missed a playoff start, either, compiling a postseason record of 7-7, and has missed only one play in his pro career because of injury.

It’s not the first time Manning has battled a bursa sac injury.

During the SEC championship game of his senior season at Tennessee, Manning ruptured a bursa sac in his right knee then played through the injury in the Orange Bowl. He was later hospitalized when it became infected but showed no ill-effects; he produced the best statistics of any rookie quarterback in league history.

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