Foot soreness sidelines Peyton Manning

After consulting with the team’s medical staff and having discussions with quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak will keep Osweiler in the starting lineup this week and Manning will make his return to the practice field Wednesday.

When the 2015 National Football League schedule was released, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers looked at the game in mid-December against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field and said, “At least we will see Peyton Manning in the cold and late in the season”.

Manning has been out for a month with a foot injury and Osweiler has been starting in his place for the Broncos, winning three out of four games. The Broncos now hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC, behind the New England Patriots and Bengals, and a two-game lead in the AFC West over the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs. “We gave him the weekend off, so we’ll see where we’re at”, Kubiak said of Manning. “… We’re a football team and we go about our day that way all the time”.

The Denver Broncos’ preference of Brock Osweiler, left, at quarterback may be a ploy to wrest back control of the offense from Peyton Manning, right. Until I sit down and see exactly where Peyton’s at, where we’re moving this week. “It just happened this morning, so it’s a decision we made with what we’re doing”.

Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) has the ball stripped by Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack, rear, as defensive end Mario Jr. When his production dropped over the final eight games of the 2014 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter later revealed Manning was playing with a torn quadriceps. Manning was on pace a career-worst 16-game pace with nine touchdown passes and 17 interceptions through nine games. Such a sentiment had developed after Manning’s late season swoon in 2014, largely due to arm fatigue late in the season, and in colder weather.

Colts: Andrew Luck went back to work but still isn’t ready to play.

Seahawks: Seattle’s search for a primary running back until Marshawn Lynch returns took an unexpected twist.

Manning has been sidelined for a month with a left foot injury.

Heyward and Tuitt have 10.5 sacks between them and are the foundation of Pittsburgh’s pass rush, which revolves around its 3-4 defensive ends breaking down the pocket from the inside and freeing the edge rushers up for one-on-one matchups. The 39-year-old had throwing sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.