By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and a host of other stars are unlikely to be on the field when the Indianapolis Colts welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday night.

All three of the players above have been limited with injuries during the preseason to date, and the final preseason contest typically sees coaches rest many of their principal starters in the first place.

Manning returned to the practice field earlier this week after undergoing minor knee surgery on the eve of training camp, and the Colts remain hopeful that he'll be in uniform for the regular season opener against the Bears on Sept. 7.

Johnson (shoulder) and Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) have missed large chunks of August due to injury, and though neither ruled out the possibility of playing against the Colts, it appears that the Bengals' opener at Baltimore on Sept. 7 is a more likely scenario for them to see their next action.

One Bengal who could make his first appearance of the preseason on Thursday is Rudi Johnson, who has yet to suit up in August due to a hamstring problem. In addition to that ailment, Johnson has been the subject of recent trade rumors.

Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer, who broke a bone in his nose against the Saints last week, is questionable for Thursday and could yield to backups Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe.

With Manning out, the natural to start for Indianapolis would be backup Jim Sorgi. But Sorgi missed last Sunday's matchup with Buffalo due to a sore knee, and his status for Thursday is unclear. If Sorgi can't go, third-string candidates Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray will have to pick up the slack.

Gray harmed his status to make the team immensely in the 20-7 loss to the Bills, completing 8-of-16 yards for 158 yards and a touchdown but also throwing a whopping four interceptions in the game.

Lorenzen, meanwhile, was a respectable 7-for-11 for 52 yards, but did not lead a scoring drive.

Elsewhere on the injury front for the Colts, Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday was injured against the Bills and is unlikely to be in the lineup against the Bengals. Saturday told reporters earlier in the week that he had a possible MCL injury.

Indianapolis is 3-15 in its last 18 preseason contests.

Cincinnati leads the all-time preseason series between the two teams, 10-6, including a 14-6 home victory prior to last season.

The Bengals and Colts will also meet in the regular season, on Dec. 7th at Lucas Oil Stadium.