Peyton Manning could take starting job back from Brock Osweiler

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. Manning threw during practice Wednesday and Thursday, including some work with the scout team against the Broncos’ starting defense.

Manning hasn’t played in a game since being benched in the third quarter of a 29-13 loss to Kansas City on November 15.

Manning returned to the practice field for throwing sessions last week.

“I’ve got to see where he’s at; we’ve got to talk through our situation and see where’s he at”, Kubiak said (via ESPN). The Broncos are 3-1 in games started by Osweiler, but he’s stalled at bit over the last two games.

Kubiak said that because of Pro Bowl voting and film review of Denver’s loss to Oakland, he hadn’t met with his quarterbacks yet. I don’t need to rehash how un-Manning-like No. 18 has looked all season, but it would make a lot of sense that he was dealing with a, at least partially, debilitating injury.

Brock Osweiler is likely in control of his own destiny at the moment. “And if you’re coming back to practice, then you’re working toward getting back on the field and playing”, Kubiak said. Any time a defense holds a team to 15 points, I believe you should win the football game… Osweiler has five touchdowns and three interceptions in six games played this season and if the offense doesn’t get things going this week, it will be an easier decision to bring Manning back once he is ready to play.

Manning was injured in Week 10, ushering Osweiler into the starting lineup.

“It was a little odd to watch Peyton take those scout team reps today, but, once again, that’s just something out of my control”, Osweiler said.

Osweiler completed a career-best 35 of 51 passes for 308 yards, his first 300-yard game, but he was sacked five times by Khalil Mack and several receivers dropped on-target passes.

“I’m expecting Brock to continue to play well, but I’m going to stay focused a week at a time”, Kubiak said. There were widespread reports this summer that the team would turn to the 6-foot-8 quarterback if Manning chose to retire.

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.

I don’t know what the exact fallout of this all will be, but my initial projection that Manning would return healthy and ride the pine seems to be waning in probability.