Peyton Manning held out of practice with foot soreness

Kubiak said Manning returning to practice would be the “next step” toward returning, but did not say much beyond that.

Manning is recovering from a torn plantar fascia and Osweiler was named the starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive game Sunday at Pittsburgh.

When Peyton Manning arrived at the Broncos facility on Friday his left foot was sore.

“It was good to see him back, I know he was happy to be back, I know everybody was excited to see him back that is no discredit to Brock”, Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver said.

“I have to see where he’s at”, Kubiak said of Manning. “… We’re a football team and we go about our day that way all the time”.

The Broncos have since gone 3-1 with Osweiler as their quarterback.

Who knows, maybe Osweiler has more than meets the eye to him and the learning process will give the Broncos a better quarterback who can move better than he is right now and be a more unsafe passer than he is right now.

Kubiak demurred when asked if Osweiler has the chance to remain the starter even when – or if – Manning is healthy.

Archie Manning said they haven’t discussed it since then.

Peyton Manning is going to Pittsburgh this weekend, but he won’t play when the Broncos meet the Steelers. Sure, Manning appeared to have nothing left before the Broncos announced his injury, but has anyone noticed Osweiler isn’t exactly great, either?

Peyton’s been rehabbing his foot for a little more than a month now. “It just happened this morning, a decision we made with what we’re doing [on Friday]”. The Broncos now hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC, behind the New England Patriots and Bengals, and a two-game lead in the AFC West over the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs.

Manning, 39, is in midst of his worst NFL season, leading the league with 17 interceptions in just nine games.

The Broncos were able to open up Kubiak’s entire playbook with Osweiler under center, including play-action passes, bootlegs, sprint-outs and rollouts, and heavier use of the tight ends as targets. Richardson has had a tough run since a strong rookie season, but he is just 25 and still could have some potential in the right team situation.