Manning slated for backup role
QB progressing, but Osweiler No. 1 for now
Barring another setback in his recovery from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be active for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the San Diego Chargers.
But it won’t be as the starting quarterback.
Coach Gary Kubiak and Manning said Wednesday that the expectation was Manning would serve as the backup to Brock Osweiler, who is preparing to make his seventh start.
It would be Manning’s first time serving as a backup quarterback in his 18-year NFL career.
Manning has been inactive as the No. 3 quarterback in each of the Broncos’ last six games. He returned to the practice field Wednesday evening for the first time in 13 days, encouraged by the progress he made in four intense throwing sessions last week.
“When you’re in street clothes and you’re not practicing and you’re kind of on your own rehabbing, you just don’t feel like you can help all that much,” Manning said. “I’ve tried to help some. I’ve tried to be there for Brock and be there for any questions they’ve had, but I think I can be more of a help to the team now that I’m more available.”
Kubiak on Wednesday evening repeatedly characterized Manning ’s presumed return to the game-day roster as the next step in his recovery from the foot injury that has bothered him since at least early November. The coach declined to speculate on whether Manning could take an additional step, which would mean a return to the starting job at some point in the playoffs.
Manning, too, said he wasn’t thinking beyond his three days of practice this week and backup role Sunday. The Broncos can clinch at least the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye with a win against the Chargers.
An additional week off would give Manning even more time to practice with his teammates as well as heal, even though he and Kubiak have conceded it is extremely unlikely the quarterback will be fully healthy at any point this season.
“I want to be able to get through this week in full capacity. We kind of had a walk-through tonight. But to practice Thursday, Friday, Saturday, get back onto the playing field in uniform, it’s been awhile,” Manning said. “Whatever I can do to help this team get a win against the Chargers, that’s kind of where the focus is, you know, the one-weekat-a-time approach.”
Yet without a definitive declaration about the team’s long-term plans at quarterback, from now into January, and with Manning continuing to get closer to being ready to play, those sorts of questions won’t go away.
Manning also said he welcomed an NFL investigation into allegations raised in an Al Jazeera America report insinuating shipments of human growth hormone were delivered to his home in Florida in 2011.
“Well, that’s certainly probably appropriate, and I’d be glad if they came in here tonight or tomorrow and do it, get it over with,” Manning said. “If the league has to do that, I’ll cooperate, and the sooner the better, though, if they’re listening.”