The Denver Broncos are giving Brock Osweiler the keys to the offense at least for one week while Peyton Manning heals from a foot injury. The backup quarterback has seen limited time on the field since arriving in Denver, but confidence is high he can keep the team in playoff contention as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears in Week 11. With the quarterback get the start, the performance of the team's role players will be important.
According to the Denver Post, Emmanuel Sanders was back on the practice field on Thursday, but was not wearing a helmet as his status for Sunday is up in the air. The receiver has been dealing with ankle and finger injuries. The receiver was seen doing light running and participating in individual drills. The return of the receiver was a welcomed note during practice, but no one is guaranteeing that he will be healthy come Week 11 which could leave Demaryius Thomas and players like Owen Daniels and Bennie Fowler in need of stepping up.
Osweiler also desperately needs the run game to come together. That is one thing that really set Manning back as both Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson have been unproductive this season. According to head coach Gary Kubiak via the Denver Post, Hillman will get the start against the Bears, but might not get the bulk of the carries. He had more work than Anderson in Week 10, but Kubiak will keep in whichever running back is having more success.
"Bottom line, there weren't many carries to go around, I know that," Kubiak said, via ESPN.com. "I trust them both in protection, so probably gonna be that way. Somebody's gonna come out a little bit ahead of the other, but we like to play them both."
If the run game can improve, Osweiler stands a chance of having a lot of success in his first start. According to the quarterback, he has been watching Manning from the start and feels ready to go out and make a difference on the field. Manning's status going forward is unknown right now. If Osweiler can get a win in Week 11, he stands the chance of getting another start and potentially more this season.
"I've prepared for this moment for a very long time,'' Osweiler said, via ESPN.com. "I haven't wasted a single day, I'm just going to stick to the preparation that got me to this point and I'll be ready to go on Sunday. The things I've learned behind him, I don't know where a quarterback gets elsewhere. I really have not wasted a single second in this building, in the room with Peyton.''