Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

As insurance in case Peyton Manning isn’t healthy enough to start the opener, the Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement with veteran quarterback Kerry Collins.

Colts sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that while Manning is making some progress and has maintained optimism, the team’s hierarchy does not believe he will be ready for the regular-season opener.

Polian had been talking to Collins, who had announced his retirement earlier this year, for several days before he agreed Tuesday night after getting the green light from his wife. As general manager of the expansion Panthers, Polian drafted Collins with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 draft. Polian was unsuccessful in trying to sign Collins in 2006 when the quarterback chose to sign with the Tennessee Titans, instead.

Other quarterbacks under consideration by the Colts were Jake Delhomme and Marc Bulger, sources told Mortensen.

Owner Jim Irsay first announced Collins’ addition on Twitter and the team confirmed the move in a news release sent out Wednesday morning.

“It is a good opportunity to have Kerry become part of the team,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said in the team’s release. “He is a veteran quarterback who has started many games and he brings dimension and depth to the quarterback position, which will be helpful. He is familiar with our division and will make a great addition to our roster.”

The 38-year-old Collins retired during the lockout in July saying “while my desire to compete on Sundays is still and always will be there, my willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position.”

He was a free agent after spending the last five seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Besides Carolina, he also has played for the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raidersand Titans in 16 seasons. He has thrown for 40,441 yards with 206 touchdowns and 195 interceptions and was a two-time Pro Bowler (1996 and 2008).

Manning said Saturday he will use the next two weeks to get healthy from offseason neck surgery, a timeline that could put his streak of 227 consecutive starts in jeopardy. Manning signed a five-year, $90 million contract in July after the 4½-month lockout ended.

“I certainly want to be out there, and it’s hard to keep track of the hours I’ve spent in rehab,” he said. “I was short-changed a little bit by the lockout and I’m going to need every bit of the next two weeks, and then I can give you more of an update with where I am.”

Since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 draft, Manning has started all 208 regular-season games and 19 more in the playoffs, the second-longest streak for a quarterback in league history behind only Brett Favre.

But the recovery from the second operation on his neck in 15 months, has been slower than expected.

“I have made progress, but I still have some work to do,” he said. “When I’m healthy enough, I’ll be able to play.”

Backup quarterback Curtis Painter has started both preseason games and has completed 8 of 16 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. In Friday night’s 16-3 loss to Washington, Painter managed only one first down and couldn’t get the offense past its 29-yard line despite playing the entire first half.

Painter hasn’t played in a regular-season game since relieving Manning in the final two games of the 2009 season — after the Colts had already locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. His career numbers are 8 of 28 for 83 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a quarterback rating of 9.8.

The only other quarterbacks on the roster are Dan Orlovsky, who has played in 13 games in six NFL seasons — though none with the Colts — and undrafted rookie Mike Hartline.

WRITTEN BY: Information from ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report & FULL STORY HERE