| Advertisement |
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- With Brock Osweiler coming off a shoulder injury and Peyton Manning still recovering from a torn plantar fascia, Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak did not know Monday in which direction he would go at quarterback next Monday. Osweiler sizzled in the first half Sunday, but struggled after halftime. The Broncos are 3-2 in his starts, and have not scored a second-half point in December.
Advertisement
But he's thrown only four interceptions in five-plus games -- in stark contrast to the 17 that Manning threw in nine starts to open the season.
Manning threw in practice last Wednesday and Thursday, but sat out Friday's work after he experience soreness in his ailing foot. He traveled to Pittsburgh with the team and was often seen conferring with Osweiler on the sideline.
Kubiak said he planned to consult with both quarterbacks before he made a decision in time for Wednesday's practice.
Kubiak said Osweiler is "day-to-day" because of the shoulder injury. He played the second half through it but struggled, going 7-of-26 with an interception.
Manning had a setback last Friday in his recovery from a torn plantar fascia, sitting out practice after seeing on-field work the two previous days.
His foot will not be at 100 percent, but if he is well enough to play, the Broncos are expected to re-insert him into the starting lineup.
Osweiler played the second half after suffering a bruise to his non-throwing shoulder.
Kubiak did not think the injury hindered him, but the quarterback was only 7-of-26 in the second half as the Broncos frittered away a 27-13 halftime lead.
--A controversial pass-interference penalty in the third quarter seemed to knock the Broncos' defense off its rhythm.
With a 27-13 lead, Chris Harris Jr. was called for contact on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. The jostling between the players included contact between Brown's forearm and Harris' helmet.
However, the only flag thrown was against Harris, and one play later, he allowed his first touchdown since Nov. 24, 2013.
"Man, that was crazy, man," Harris said. "I don't know. It's the NFL. Sometimes they don't let us play football. It's just the way it is. It was a big momentum change, it seemed like. I've got to be able to just let that go and come back to the next play."
But he couldn't -- and the Broncos could not contain the Steelers from that point forward. They had to play back to try to avoid penalties, and Pittsburgh pounced.
"It should have been a no-call," Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith said. "But when calls like that happen, it causes you to have to play off. You can't play as aggressive. And with a guy like that (Brown), you've got to play aggressive on him, and it just changed the way that we covered them."
--Running back C.J. Anderson returned from an ankle injury to play 37 snaps Sunday, only two fewer than Ronnie Hillman. Most of his work was confined to pass protection, as he touched the football only five times.
--Safety T.J. Ward is expected to practice Wednesday for the first time since he sprained an ankle on Nov. 29 against New England. He is considered "day-to-day," but the Broncos need him to play because of other injuries to their safety corps.
--Safety David Bruton Jr. played 95 snaps -- including 18 on special teams -- despite fracturing his fibula late in the first quarter. Bruton said that the doctor that examined him told him he would miss four-to-six weeks. He had just come back from two sprained knee ligaments.
--Safety Omar Bolden sat out Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury. He did not play at all last week, and the Broncos are being cautious as this is an aggravation of an injury he suffered during training camp.
--Safety Darian Stewart is expected to play next Monday after sitting out against the Steelers. Stewart tested his hamstring, but the team felt that playing him presented too much of a risk.
--Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware saw his workload double Sunday as the Broncos continue easing him back up to speed following his back injury. Ware missed four games because of the back injury and was brought back slowly in practice.
--Left guard Evan Mathis played only as a blocker on placekicks as the Broncos tried to rest him and limit his workload. Mathis has been struggling with an ankle injury since Nov. 22.
