Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the Broncos’ trade intentions in 2014. The story below has been corrected to remove the error.
The Peyton Manning drama continues.
The Denver Broncos quarterback is missing his first game since 2011 on Sunday and reportedly could miss more time, but it sounds as though the Broncos are more than OK with that scenario, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported, citing several sources informed of the team’s thinking.
“No one has ruled out Osweiler taking over if he lights it up,” Rapoport wrote Sunday on NFL.com.
Manning and Kubiak will sit down Monday to discuss the QB’s future, Rapoport added, but the Broncos apparently have been preparing for this transition.
“If Osweiler has more than one start, the Broncos have gotten him ready,” Rapoport wrote. “They had him act as the starter during several days of training camp to see how the players would respond, and how Osweiler would be as the starter. Meanwhile, Manning sat. It was the same during some Wednesdays this season, which is something Manning had to come to grips with.”
Though Rapoport added Denver’s goal is to get Manning healthy enough to play again, it certainly begs the question of whether we’ll ever see the NFL’s all-time leading passer start again.
NFL Media’s Mike Silver further questioned Denver’s commitment to Manning, reporting John Elway, the Broncos’ general manager and executive vice president of football operations, only would be willing to trade Osweiler for a sixth-round draft pick.
UPDATE (8:05 p.m. ET): Osweiler might have lit it up, completing 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos’ 17-15 win over the Chicago Bears.
On his 25th birthday no less.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
