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Peyton Manning's injury isn't quite so cut-and-dry after all.

While the Denver Broncos quarterback reportedly will miss Sunday's game versus the Chicago Bears due to a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot, it was his ribs that concerned coach Gary Kubiak last week and promoted him to tell the media that Manning shouldn't have started in the first place.

That same rib injury could be what extends Manning's absence, including a Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

While it's hard to imagine Manning missing a primetime "Sunday Night Football" game versus Tom Brady and the New England Patriots next Sunday, that seems to be the most likely scenario given Rapoport's broad timeline.

Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images