ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is skipping the Pro Bowl because his right thigh injury hasn’t gotten much better in the week since the Denver Broncos were bounced from the playoffs.

Manning calls it “a great honor” to be selected to the game and he’s “always taken the obligation to play in it very seriously.”

He adds: “I’ve believed that, if healthy, it’s a player’s responsibility to play in the game because of what it means to be voted in by your peers and the fans.”

Manning was injured late in the first half of a game at San Diego on Dec. 14 and missed a handful of snaps before returning to play the entire second half. He didn’t miss any more time with the injury.