Peyton Manning set to practice as Brock Osweiler named starter vs. Steelers
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will make his first significant step toward potentially returning to the starting lineup Wednesday, when he is scheduled to practice for the first time in more than a month.
The Broncos said Tuesday that backup quarterback Brock Osweiler will remain the team’s starter through the Week 15 game at the Pittsburgh Steelers, while also announcing Manning’s return to practice.
The latter fact for now is the most notable.
Manning has not joined his teammates for practice since the days leading up to the Nov. 15 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was pulled from that game in the third quarter and has been receiving treatment for a torn plantar fascia in his left foot ever since. That rehab included a trip to a foot specialist in North Carolina, one week spent wearing a walking cast and several more days wearing a walking boot. He resumed throwing last week, but those limited sessions happened away from the team’s practice time.
Osweiler is 3-1 in his four starts since taking over for Manning and at times has been far more effective in running the offense than Manning was this year. But the Broncos have scored just one touchdown in the past two games and were held to four first-half field goals in a 15-12 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Denver’s offensive line and running game performed poorly in that game and Osweiler was sacked five times, all in the second half.
How Manning responds to practice this week, and how Osweiler and the offense perform Sunday against the Steelers, could lead to more significant quarterback debate next week, as the Broncos prepare for a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 28. That game could have major bearing on the top of the AFC playoff race.
Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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