Do the Denver Broncos have a quarterback controversy on their hands?
Peyton Manning returned to the practice field Wednesday after sitting out the last five weeks with a foot injury. Though the Broncos are 3-1 in the four games Brock Osweiler has started, continuing with him as the starter is not a given.
Denver fell to the Oakland Raiders 15-12 this past weekend with Osweiler taking five sacks. Though he crossed the 300-yard passing mark for the first time in his career, he failed to throw a touchdown. Head coach Gary Kubiak has made it a point to approach the QB position with a week-to-week mindset ever since Manning went down so as to avoid distractions. However, the time to make a final decision is fast approaching.
Manning will need some time to get 100 percent healthy, but even then, NBC Denver's Mike Klis believes that Osweiler will remain the starter.
"I do think if both Manning and Osweiler are healthy...that Osweiler would be the guy - in large part because he can operate from under center," Klis wrote.
Kubiak's standard offense puts the QB under center for the majority of snaps, whereas Manning has been running a hybrid offense that includes a lot of pistol-based formations. Though Manning has struggled this season, his offensive approach is arguably the most effective regular season system in NFL history.
Overall, Manning has thrown for 2,180 yards with nine touchdowns against 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 percent of his passes this season. His passer rating of 67.6 marks a career low. Osweiler, meanwhile, has been solid yet unspectacular. In five game appearances he is completing 63.5 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,140 yards with five scores against three picks.
It wouldn't be a surprise if Osweiler started this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to give Manning more time to completely recover. After this week, however, Kubiak will be expected to make a decision for the remainder of the season.
