Report: Peyton Manning medically cleared to return to football

Two doctors who have recently examined Peyton Manning's neck and shoulder say the future Hall of Fame quarterback is ready to return to NFL football, ESPN reported late Thursday.

Sources who spoke to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter that in recent medical examinations, two doctors "concluded the stability in his neck would have allowed the quarterback to play this Sunday if the nerves in his arm had regenerated to a satisfactory performance level."

Getting a medical clearance is hardly the only obstacle to an NFL return for Manning. He is on shaky terms with his longtime team, the Indianapolis Colts, who may release him and draft Stanford star Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft.

Several other teams have expressed an interest in Manning, but he will still be overcoming a yearlong hiatus -- and teams will have to weigh whether his age and the possibility of an injury recurrence are too great of a liability.

Meanwhile, Manning's throwing arm continues to regenerate, ESPN reports. While it wouldn't be unsafe for him to throw now, he won't be able to perform as he once did until nerves further regenerate in his triceps.