Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning watches Friday practice

Peyton Manning is set to return to practice Wednesday for the first time in a month, but he’ll be a sideline spectator again Sunday when Brock Osweiler makes his fifth consecutive start Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Head coach Gary Kubiak likes what he has seen so far from Manning, who showed no setbacks with the torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

“I have to see where he’s at”, Kubiak said of Manning.

Two weeks ago Manning said Anderson had no answers for him when he asked how long he’d be sidelined or when he might be able to return. This is the first time he has had to work his way back, and the first time his team has had to seriously consider if he will be inserted back into the starting lineup when he gets healthy. The Broncos have just two more regular-season games – a week from Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals and January 3 against the San Diego Chargers.

“You can’t let him stay in the pocket, he can make any throw there is making sure we bring a lot of pressure and bringing him to the ground and getting some good hits on him are crucial”, Ray said. It seems the Steelers have gone all-in on preparing for Osweiler to quarterback the Broncos this Sunday. However, now Kubiak has to wait until later in the week to determine whether Manning is healthy enough to play. “It just happened this morning, a decision we made with what we’re doing [on Friday]”.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning walks to huddle to warm up during a practice at the team’s headquarters Wednesday, Dec.16, 2015, in Englewood, Colo.

In addition to Manning, Kubiak said safeties T.J. Ward (ankle) and Omar Bolden (hamstring) and linebacker Lerentee McCray (hamstring) would miss Sunday’s game.

Before you bury Manning forever … it is not unprecedented for an injured quarterback to return to practice with the scout team.

“I’m expecting Brock to continue to play well, but I’m going to stay focused a week at a time”, Kubiak said. Until I sit down and see exactly where Peyton’s at, where we’re moving this week.

Overall, Manning has thrown for 2,180 yards with nine touchdowns against 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 percent of his passes this season. Last week, Manning added a throwing regimen to his rehab program with three 30-minute sessions with the team’s strength and conditioning coaches, one session each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

NOTES: Sanders created a stir shortly after he signed with Denver previous year when he pointed out he never met a QB who prepared like Manning.

Not planned was Manning needing a day off after just two practices.