Broncos’ injury-hit Manning to sit out Bears game

Coach Gary Kubiak said Brock Osweiler will get the start at quarterback Sunday versus Chicago.

Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) will start Sunday against the Chicago Bears after Peyton Manning was ruled out with an injury. The Broncos reported a rib-cage injury the day before the game, but they had long known about the foot, with partially torn plantar fascia. Although Manning didbreak Brett Favre’s National Football League record for most passing yards in the game, Kubiak was forced to bench him in the third quarter after Manning threw four interceptions.

In 288 career starts prior to Sunday, including the playoffs, Manning had never completed fewer than 12 passes or thrown for fewer than 95 yards in a game (he had 35 on Sunday) in which he threw at least 15 passes. “I should have probably made the decision not to play him”.

It’s just the latest-and worst-in a series of subpar performances this year that we’re not used to seeing from NFL’s all-time leader in TD passes, passing yards, and a whole host of other categories.

“Let me just say this: Obviously, I’m very disappointed in the football game…I’m disappointed in myself, this is on me”. The fans aren’t going to forget that Peyton Manning.

While health was always a concern, especially in 2014 when a quad injury severely hampered the Broncos down the stretch, leading to the ouster of head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, it wasn’t until Monday morning that we knew exactly what Manning was dealing with.

“I expect to see him come back”, he said. Maybe looking back that was a wrong indication by me. When Manning was waiting to announce his official decision last summer on whether he would return, sources close to the team indicated that they were ready to give the reins to Osweiler if Manning did choose to retire.

Winning the game was one thing, but it was the way the Cardinals did it, Arians said Monday, that will help the team in its challenges ahead. Jay Cutler completed 19 of 24 passes for 258 yards and three touchdown.

“I think that I need to use this week and use the time”, Manning said. “We felt like we had a really good play and a really good grasp of what we were doing”.

Peyton Manning will not play for the Denver Broncos in Chicago this Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS4.

Another exciting aspect to this game is that Osweiler will be starting his first National Football League contest on his 25th birthday. “We’re focused this week, and then we’ll reevaluate everything next week, but I stand by Peyton and support him 100 percent”. “He has to get healthy like everybody else when everybody else is banged up”.