The Denver Broncos will have Brock Osweiler starting again in Week 16 over Peyton Manning, as Manning is not yet ready to return from a foot injury. The team announced the news on Wednesday and head coach Gary Kubiak said that Manning will not be active on Monday night and did not practice on Wednesday.
Manning has been dealing with a torn plantar fascia and is not ready to return and that will put Osweiler under center for another game. According to the Denver Broncos team website, the team announced that Osweiler will start and that Manning will not be on the active roster for the Monday game against the Bengals. Manning practiced last week in a limited capacity and then sat out on Friday while dealing with soreness.
Osweiler has started five games in a row for the Broncos and the team now is locked in a close battle for playoff position in the AFC. The Broncos lost to the Steelers on Sunday and still have not clinched the AFC West division. The Chiefs are just one game back and that makes the Monday night game against the Bengals a major tilt for seeding in the conference. The Broncos are in position to clinch a playoff spot depending on who else wins this week and heading into Monday night the team will know whether they can or not with a win against the Bengals.
Trevor Siemian will be the backup on Monday and there is a chance that Manning could return for Week 17 or the playoffs if he makes progress with his foot. Osweiler has been solid for the Broncos since taking over and in his last four games he has five touchdowns and three picks for the team. Osweiler and the Broncos offense got off to a strong start on Sunday before losing to the Steelers and now the team has a tough matchup with the Bengals.
According to Pro Football Talk, sources said that Manning could need surgery in the future on his foot, but that likely would come after the season if it happens. Manning is continuing to rehab the foot and that is one reason why Kubiak said that Osweiler will start and Manning will not be active for Monday.
