Elway: Manning will play 1 or 2 series vs. Bears

Updated: August 9, 2012, 11:07 AM ET

ESPN.com news services

Peyton Manning will make his return to the field Thursday night for the first time in 19 months when the Denver Broncos visit the Chicago Bears.

A four-time MVP, Manning missed all of last season with a nerve injury in his neck that weakened his throwing arm and led to his departure from the Indianapolis Colts.

Like most starters, Manning is expected to see limited playing time in the preseason opener. He has not appeared in a game since leading the Colts against the New York Jets in January 2011.

"It's gonna come down to how much our first offensive line plays," Broncos VP of football operations John Elway told NFL.com. "I asked (Manning) the other day, 'one or two series?' I think you get a feel for it during the game.

"If things go well right off the bat, have a nice scoring drive, then get him out. You wanna get something going to where they have a good drive. You don't want to have three three-and-outs. You wanna get some confidence, get some first downs, and maybe put some points on the board. If we do that, get him out, and go to the next week."