ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning doesnt like to skip any snaps, so you can imagine how unhappy he was Wednesday when a tender ankle forced him to miss practice for the first time since joining the Denver Broncos last year. "It was Greeks call," Manning said of head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. "I can assure I didnt go down without a fight. But hopefully Ill use the day to get a little better, feel a little better." Manning said he plans to return to practice Thursday when the banged-up Broncos (6-1) continue preparations for Mike Shanahans return to Denver with the Washington Redskins (2-4). Manning was knocked around by his former team in his homecoming on Sunday night. His mix-and-match offensive line allowed him to get hit 10 times, including four sacks, two by Robert Mathis, in a 39-33 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Coach John Fox declined to identify which ankle was bothering his star quarterback, and Manning deflected questions about it, too. Showing his sense of humour was still intact even if hes not up on current events, Manning cracked: "I know government is shut down right now but I still very firmly believe in HIPPA," the federal medical privacy law. "So, I will refer all questions to the injury report." That report, of course, didnt specify which ankle was hurt, nor the severity of the injury, although Fox did allow this bit of detail: "Its nothing serious, just sore." Manning was one of seven starters who sat out Wednesdays workout, joining right tackle Orlando Franklin (ankle), right guard Chris Kuper (ankle) and wide receivers Eric Decker (toe) and Wes Welker (ankle) on offence along with cornerback Champ Bailey (foot) and defensive end Shaun Phillips (hamstring). Manning was never knocked from the game Sunday night, although his passes were wobbly after a big sack/strip by Mathis that resulted in a safety that gave the Colts early momentum. "Its a physical game out there and I dont know who, in their 16th year, ever feels 100 per cent at any point," Manning said. "Ive been hit a lot. Ive taken big hits and its part of football is getting up and getting back in the game." After stretching with his teammates Wednesday, Manning donned his helmet but was strictly an observer as backup Brock Osweiler ran the offence at practice. Osweiler called it a productive practice even though he was surrounded by fellow subs. "Its nice to call your own plays and remember how our offence works rather than just running the scout team," he said. "I thought it was great. It was a lot of fun. We got a lot of great things accomplished today and Im definitely better for it." The rare heavy workload, he added, "definitely helped me out in case something was to happen in a game, Ill be ready to roll." When the scrum of reporters around his locker broke up, Osweiler said, "Talk to you guys in probably a couple of months." Aside from 2011, when Manning missed the whole season because of neck troubles that affected his right triceps, the leagues only four-time MVP has hardly missed a day of work since a brief holdout at training camp his rookie year in 1998. There was a knee injury in 2001, a bursa sac issue at training camp in 08. Thats about it. "Hell practice tomorrow," Fox said. "This is a little rest time we thought was well needed." Notes: MLB Wesley Woodyard (neck, limited) said he expects to play Sunday after missing 2 1/2 games. ... Only 5 players remain from Shanahans tenure in Denver: Bailey, Kuper, Woodyard, K Matt Prater and injured LT Ryan Clady. Timo Meier Jersey . Cox started the season with San Francisco, but was released by the team on Nov. 12 before being signed by Seattle, where he appeared in two games and tallied three tackles before being released on Dec. Marc-Edouard Vlasic Jersey . - The first sign that Kansas Speedway was going to be a heartbreaker for Hendrick Motorsports should have come during qualifying when Jimmie Johnson inexplicably spun and earned one of his worst starting spots since 2005. http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/martin-jones-jersey/ .C. United to a 4-1 victory over short-handed FC Dallas on Saturday night. Brent Burns Sharks Jersey . -- Center Max Unger and tight end Zach Miller are both probable for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday against the New York Giants and Percy Harvins recovery continues to be slow. Martin Jones Sharks Jersey .Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been neck and neck all season, with 17 points separating the rivals and double points on offer for the race.Tensions between them have spilled over during the campaign and the pairs fragile relationship was evident during Thursdays pre-race news conference, when Rosberg goaded Hamilton by advising him to race cleanly.NEW YORK -- Manny Pacquiao is out to show Timothy Bradley that he still has a "killer instinct." Pacquiao was in New York on Wednesday as part of a media tour to promote his rematch with Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas. Bradley beat Pacquiao in 2012 in a hotly disputed split decision. At a news conference on Tuesday in southern California, Bradley said the 35-year-old Pacquiao still has skills, but the former welterweight champions "killer instinct is gone." In an interview with The Associated Press, Pacquiao said he takes that as a challenge. "The aggressiveness and killer extinct, I have that, but sometimes Im too nice with my opponent," Pacquiao said. "But this fight he challenged me to do that. But this fight, hell get it." Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) was scheduled to attend the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden later in the day, and then appear on Keith Olbermanns ESPN show. Pacquiao, who is a congressman back home in the Philippines, lost to Bradley and was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez siix months later in 2012.dddddddddddd He didnt fight again for almost a year before beating Brandon Rio in a decisive unanimous decision in November. During that time he ran for re-election -- unopposed -- and he helped his wife run for office, too. "I dont lose my passion or my desire to fight," Pacquiao said. "Its part of boxing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose." Pacquiao said at 35 years old he has changed his training routine to allow himself more time off, but his workouts are as intense as ever. Still, he said he plans to retire in two or three more years. "I feel in my body I can still fight, by Gods grace," he said. That doesnt leave much time for the match fight fans have longed for: Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. The two have never been able to come to an agreement and each fighters camp has blamed the other for it not getting done. Pacquiao said he suggested the two fight for charity. "My line (open) is 24/7," he said. "He can contact us to say, Yes, Id love to fight." ' ' '