The Denver Broncos will have Brock Osweiler starting again on Sunday in Week 14, but Peyton Manning has started throwing in practice and could return from a foot injury soon. The Broncos have Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson dealing with injuries heading into the weekend and while the running backs are expected to play, Juwan Thompson could see increased touches if they are limited.
Head coach Gary Kubiak confirmed that Osweiler will start against the Raiders in Week 14 and that will be the third straight game that he has started at quarterback. Manning has been out with a foot injury and after getting the cast off of his foot last week, Manning was able to start his rehab work. According to the Denver Post, Manning started throwing and went through drills on Wednesday in practice, although he is still not ready to come back.
The Post reports that Manning is still expected to miss another week or two as he comes back from the foot injury, leaving Osweiler to continue starting. Kubiak said earlier in the month that once Manning was healthy, he would start again. Some in the media have suggested that the Broncos could keep Osweiler at quarterback even if Manning is healthy if he continues to play well and the team keeps winning, but Kubiak dismissed that notion.
Kubiak and the Broncos could consider that option down the line, but for right now they have no pressure to say that Manning will return when he is healthy, because he is not yet close to returning anyway. Manning overall has had a tough season with 17 interceptions and a 59 percent completion rate, but he still is a Hall of Fame player and the Broncos likely will have him under center again once he is ready to return.
Osweiler has played well for the Broncos and the team has yet to lose in the games that Osweiler has started. Last week Osweiler went 16-of-26 for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception and he now has four TDs and two picks in the three games that he has started for Manning. One reason some in the media have suggested that Osweiler could remain the starter is because the offense and the running game has looked better for Denver in recent weeks.
Heading into the weekend both Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson are dealing with injuries and while they are expected to play, there is a chance that Juwan Thompson could get increased work. Hillman is dealing with a foot injury and Anderson is dealing with an ankle injury, but right now neither player appears in danger of missing out on Sunday. Thompson comes in with 13 carries for 40 yards this season and could get some carries in Week 14.