QB DECISION DEFERRED
Broncos coach in no hurry to make the call on starter.
The Broncos know where they will be playing in the postseason. They just don’t know yet who will be leading them.
Monday, coach Gary Kubiak deferred a decision on his starting quarterback after Peyton Manning relieved Brock Osweiler, rallying Denver to a 27-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The players reconvene for practice Thursday, which is the first day a choice might be revealed to the team.
“I have nothing for you today. I have no timeline. I am focused on how to get our team ready for the next opponent,” Kubiak said before adding: “I don’t have any concern, because our team understands we always have direction. They know. We get direction, and we’ve got direction.”
Dealing with uncertainty at quarterback requires a delicate balance. For the past seven weeks, Kubiak has not made decisions on Osweiler and Manning until necessary. Dating to November, Kubiak offered hints Manning would start if he checks out physically. That didn’t play out before the Chargers game, but lingering uncertainty remained given Manning’s extended absence dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
Manning eased concerns with Sunday’s abbreviated but successful performance.
“I didn’t have to move a ton. I tried to throw the ball on time. Of course, we ran the ball a decent amount. I’ve worked hard in rehab. It’s been a frustrating injury,” Manning said. “You get better a little bit and then you start practicing and then it’s not feeling well, but I’ve really pushed it hard the past couple of weeks and it’s held up.”
Even as Osweiler started six straight games, Kubiak viewed the assignments on a week-to-week basis. Out since Nov. 15 with the foot injury, Manning wasn’t healthy enough to generate a quarterback controversy.
The season finale against the Chargers represented the first time Kubiak picked between the two, making Manning a healthy backup for the first time since his freshman season at Tennessee in 1994.
With the Broncos on a bye week until hosting a Jan. 17 divisional playoff game, Kubiak is in no rush to publicly declare his plans. He admitted there’s no manu- al for handling this situation, especially for a top-seeded playoff team.
“If there is one, I don’t have it,” Kubiak said. “I am going to always do what I think is best for the team.”
Viewed as the favorite to win the job in the eyes of experts and fans, Manning made an argument to start after finishing off the Chargers. He took over in the third quarter with the Broncos trailing 13-7 and guided three straight scoring drives. His presence and intelligence proved as critical as his passes.
Manning diagnosed the defense, putting the Broncos in better running plays. Denver ran for 139 yards on 19 carries after Manning took over. He completed 5-of-9 passes for 69 yards and, for the first time this season, didn’t throw an interception.
“I did a pretty good job of handing off,” Manning said.
After waiting 43 months for his chance, Osweiler posted a 5-2 record as a starter. He didn’t play poorly Sunday, completing 14-of-22 passes for 232 yards, but he became a casualty of the team’s turnovers. Osweiler threw two interceptions — a case can be made neither was his fault — and held onto the ball too long on a blind-side hit, leading to a lost fumble that might have been avoided with an audible fix in the protection.
“I guarantee Brock knows I’ve got confidence in him. He knows this team has confidence in him,” Kubiak said. “Becoming a quarterback in this league, it’s a process, and boy, has he handled his opportunity really well. He will be fine.”
Manning’s was encouraged by how his foot responded Sunday, but it bears watching if he can make it through practice and a full game. He worked himself back onto the roster after consecutive strong weeks of practice, first on his own for four days followed by three days with the team last week. His showing on the scout team impressed teammates, leading them to believe he might be able to lead again at some point.
“He made us work all week,”cornerback Chris Harris said. “He was trying to come after us. I picked him off a few times. It was fun.
“It was good to get him out there, having that presence in the locker room. You need that guy. That’s why he’s 18. I have all the confidence in the world if coach chooses him or Brock.”