After Kubiak did so, the Broncos said Tuesday evening that Manning would return to practice on Wednesday, but Brock Osweiler will start against the Steelers.
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The Baltimore Ravens signed free agent quarterback Ryan Mallett, who played in six games with Houston earlier this season.
Despite Manning’s struggles, the Broncos will unquestionably still prefer his experience and football savviness to Osweiler for the final games of the season and the playoffs.
Blount leads the Patriots rushers with 703 yards and four touchdowns.
Mallett was selected out of Arkansas by New England in the third round of the 2011 draft.
Manning logged his first practice since a November 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, after which Manning was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. “If we went out to practice today, absolutely nothing has changed today”, Kubiak said Monday, via USA Today. Manning has the name and the legacy, but Osweiler has the front-office and coaching support and, maybe, the future of the franchise in his hands.
However, Manning is nearing a competitive comeback with a return to practice field looming, according to Kubiak. The team has a championship-quality defense and could have a strong chance to win reach the Super Bowl if Osweiler can continue to offer strong performances.
But the Broncos ran for just 34 yards on 21 carries last week against Oakland with C.J. Anderson sidelined by an ankle injury and Ronnie Hillman playing on a sore foot.
Osweiler, who will make his fifth National Football League start Sunday, has gone 3-1 in Manning’s place. The Broncos’ offense has been held to 17 or fewer points in three of his four starts this year. “I don’t know how to describe that to you, but that’s probably what I’m looking for the most as we move forward”.
“It was a little odd to watch Peyton take those scout team reps [Wednesday]”, Osweiler said.
The Broncos have been capable of open up Kubiak’s whole playbook with Osweiler underneath middle, together with play-action passes, bootlegs, sprint-outs and rollouts, and heavier use of the tight ends as targets.
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For those who are unfamiliar with scout teams, they are the unit that simulates the opponent’s offense in practice based on scouting reports. Though he has a typically high 11.3 yards per completion, his 6.8 yards per pass attempt were again his fewest since his rookie season.
