Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has confirmed that Peyton Manning will resume practice on Wednesday, which could mean a very awkward situation is just days away from coming to a head.
Brock Osweiler is likely in control of his own destiny at the moment. The Broncos are 3-1 in games he has started, but they have a tough game at Pittsburgh this weekend coming off a disappointing home loss to the Raiders. In that game, Osweiler completed 35-of-51 passes for 308 yards but could not find the end zone. He also looked skittish in the pocket at times and had trouble getting the ball downfield.
If Osweiler plays well against the Steelers, a potential postseason opponent, Kubiak will be hesitant to give Manning his job back. But what if Osweiler struggles and the Broncos lose? Would Manning reclaim his spot for a crucial home game against the Bengals that could determine who gets a bye in the first round of the playoffs?
A lot of this depends on Manning’s health. If his foot was truly a major issue and the reason he threw four interceptions in a half against the Chiefs before being benched, he should be able to improve based on health alone. If Manning’s body is simply deteriorating and he can’t make throws, Kubiak might decide to ride it out with Osweiler.
If a report we heard earlier this week is true, Osweiler may keep his job. Part of me believes Manning was struggling so much because he is not a great fit for Kubiak’s system, which tends to place the quarterback under center more often. Manning is at his best when he operates from the shotgun and can dictate the pace, and, as they say, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
In my opinion, the Broncos should go back to Manning if he is healthy and Osweiler struggles against the Steelers. Peyton is a better quarterback than half of the quarterbacks in the league based on football IQ alone. Can the same be said for Osweiler? Perhaps someday, but he still has a long way to go.
