GREEN BAY, Wis. — Stopping a third-string quarterback is one thing. Now the Green Bay Packers' depleted defense must face Peyton Manning.

The Packers (3-3) came into the season hoping that a strong defense would lead them into the post-Brett Favre era. Instead, they've struggled through a string of injuries, finally snapping a three-game losing streak at Seattle last Sunday.

Of course, it didn't hurt that they were facing third-stringer Charlie Frye instead of Matt Hasselbeck. They'll get no such break in today's game against the Indianapolis Colts (3-2) at Lambeau Field.

"You definitely don't want to play Peyton Manning with a banged-up defense," Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said. "We're pretty beat up. But I think we've got a lot of talent, a lot of great matchups that's going to give Peyton Manning problems."

Help is on the way for the Packers, but it likely won't arrive by today.

Cornerback Al Harris is close to returning from a spleen injury, but isn't expected to play. Safety Atari Bigby has missed four games with a hamstring injury and didn't practice earlier this week.

Defensive end Cullen Jenkins is out for the year, and two backup defensive ends are banged up, too. Pickett is nursing a triceps injury, and linebacker A.J. Hawk and cornerback Charles Woodson are playing with nagging injuries.

And here's more bad news for the Packers: Manning and the Colts finally are playing like themselves again.

"Last week, for the first time, I saw us play our type of game, where we did play with a lot of energy, we were clicking on all cylinders," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.

Manning had surgery — two, actually, as he admitted this week — to fix an infected bursa sac in his left knee in the offseason. He struggled out of the gate, and the Colts lost two of their first three.

But Manning has been impressive in October. The Colts rallied from 17 points down for a fourth-quarter win at Houston, and Manning threw for three touchdowns in Sunday's 31-3 victory over Baltimore.

"It's still, 'What have you done for me lately?' and we still need to do it every single week," Manning said.

A major reason for Manning's resurgence: continuity on the offensive line. For the first time this season, the Colts used the same starting line two weeks in a row.

But Indianapolis' running game is still sputtering — and now short-handed.

Pro Bowl running back Joseph Addai is expected to miss today's game after hurting his hamstring. Former 1,000-yard rusher Dominic Rhodes is expected to carry the load against the Packers.

And despite all the injuries, the Packers still have a dangerous pass defense. Woodson is tied for the league lead with four interceptions, and Harris' replacement, Tramon Williams, has an interception in three straight games.

"They are aggressive with a lot of bump-and-run coverage and man-to-man type coverage," Manning said.

Packers starter Aaron Rodgers has played two straight games with a sprained right shoulder that has largely kept him out of practice.

"You need to be out there on the field every Sunday," Rodgers said. "I think guys know in this locker room, everybody's dealing with some level of pain, injury. But playing with pain and being effective with pain I think is pretty admirable and you can't help but respect that."




© Copyright Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.