The Denver Broncos turn to Brock Osweiler at quarterback

Injured Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning isn’t just sitting out Sunday’s game against the Bears, he won’t even be on the sidelines.

SERIES HISTORY: 15th regular-season meeting.

Manning was putrid all day long.

All of this is the work of Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, according to Palmer, and it’s unclear if Manning will even make the trip with the team to Soldier Field.

“I feel like there’s a shift”, Peterson told the Pioneer Press on Thursday. There’s a decent chance Sam Bradford doesn’t get his job back. The dismal ending for Manning is all the sadder because Manning is not just admired for his quarterback skills; he is well-liked and universally respected off the field, articulate, witty and smart (and the best athlete-pitchman in history).

Know this: On Monday, Kubiak told Manning he wouldn’t play against the Bears, wouldn’t dress for the game as Osweiler’s backup, wouldn’t practice this week and the NFL’s all-time passing leader in almost every significant category shouldn’t worry about attending meetings.

Manning is suffering from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot and Brock Osweiler will start in his place.

There’s a long article on ESPN Insider this week speculating that we’ve seen the end of Manning. Unfortunately, we pegged one of only two underdogs that failed to cover, the Tennessee Titans +4.5 hosting the Carolina Panthers who succeeded at making it a game (17-10 in the fourth quarter) but failed at covering.

Let’s put it this way: If you asked WRs Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas inquisition-style whether they’d rather have Osweiler tossing them the pigskin the rest of the way or Manning version 2015, APP would bet the entire breadbasket that they’d say Osweiler. Brock Osweiler will get the first start in his four-year National Football League career Sunday at Chicago.

Osweiler is certainly a unique quarterback prospect. He’s young and has had a great opportunity to sit behind, and learn from, a future 1st ballot Hall of Famer. When he ran the hurry-up, no-huddle offense he’s most comfortable operating, Manning played like the five-time MVP we’ve known. He will always be one of the greatest QB’s, but he is simply not as skilled as he once was. He drove the team down for two touchdowns in the second half and looked like he had a pretty good command over the offense. They need Peyton Manning to get healthy and return or for Brock Osweiler to live up to his draft status.

Renck: Osweiler belongs under center a large chunk of the time.

“We’re sure they’re going to do a few different things, ” Chicago coach John Fox said”. The defense for Denver has been outstanding. The Broncos need offensive production if this team wants to go deep into the playoffs. Right here, right now, all Osweiler has to do is not mess up to be more effective than an ailing Manning.

“That’s a little bigger of a picture than what I’m dealing with right now”, Manning said.

In two games since being activated off IR-designated to return, Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi is averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Things did not get much better against the Kansas City Chiefs.

This year Denver is 29th in the league and struggling to run the football. They must protect him and give him time to throw. Manning, meanwhile, won’t be around to help Osweiler on Sunday, because he thinks he won’t be of any help.

“His focus is 100 percent on treatment and getting healthy”, Palmer said.

Of course that line didn’t contemplate Chicago’s impressive road performance at St. Louis or Denver’s blowout loss at home.