Peyton Manning to become unusual backup

Quarterback Peyton Manning was able to make it through a full practice on Thursday and could be active for the first time in seven games on Sunday when the Denver Broncos face the San Diego Chargers. “I can’t remember what we were talking about, but there’s times he’s come to me and said some things, and I took that advice like I always do, and I made it work”.

“When we went into the year, we set all our goals to be in the top five, but our goal when I talked to them first was we wanted to be the best, ” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said.

Kubiak on Wednesday evening repeatedly characterized Manning’s presumed return to the gameday roster as the “next step” in Manning’s recovery from the foot injury that has bothered him since at least early November.

Manning has been inactive as the No. 3 quarterback each of the Broncos’ last six games.

Manning is returning from a left heel injury that forced him to miss six games, and the Broncos are fighting for a first-round playoff bye on Sunday. No matter how you spin it, Manning literally is a backup quarterback right now.

Should Manning fill the backup role for the Broncos on Sunday, he would be back in action one week after being linked allegedly to the illegal use of human growth hormone following neck surgery in 2011.

They say that the backup quarterback is the most popular guy on the team.

Over the weekend, Manning had said he would like to start, but he also added that he would do what’s “best for the team”. Broncos LB Von Miller has 10 sacks in nine games versus the Chargers.2. “We have a ton of confidence in him and what he’s doing for this football team, but we just need to all stay focused on our job and get ready to play San Diego”. Manning is expected to resume practicing Wednesday.

The bottom line though is that unless Osweiler gets hurt, we’ve probably seen the last of Manning as a starter in a Broncos uniform, which means he’s going to have to decide if it’s time to retire or try and give it one more season with another team. The Broncos have won eight of the last nine. “We want to be the best in the league and those guys have followed through with it”.

The unflappable Osweiler is 4-2 as Denver’s starter and could be undefeated but for some key dropped passes.

“We’re arrogant to be honest with you, ” outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. “I’ve tried to be there for Brock and be there for any questions they’ve had, but I can be more of a help to the team now that I’m more available”. I’ve been a good teammate. This year the entire AFC North, and three of the four AFC South teams all had to go to their second-string signal caller. The Broncos got off to a good start, but they failed to move the ball consistently and did not score in the second half.