Broncos prepping to start Osweiler again as Manning continues rehab

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday "nothing's changed'' in the team's quarterback plan, so Brock Osweiler will prepare to start the Broncos' regular-season finale Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

It will be Osweiler's seventh consecutive start. Kubiak said he will also meet with Peyton Manning either Tuesday evening or Wednesday to talk about what level of participation Manning will have in the team's practices this week.

Manning, who suffered a torn plantar fascia near his left heel in the Broncos' Nov. 8 loss in Indianapolis, has practiced twice -- on a limited basis on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 -- since he was removed from the Broncos' Nov. 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Asked Tuesday about what the plan was for Manning this week, Kubiak said, "[We'll] sit down and talk about that, but nothing's changed. We'll proceed just like we have.''

Kubiak had said "nothing's changed'' on the quarterback situation immediately after Monday night's 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals that officially clinched a playoff spot for the Broncos.

Osweiler is now 4-2 in his six starts, including overtime wins over New England and Cincinnati -- two teams in the AFC's playoff field -- and he has completed 61 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

Asked after Monday's game whether he believed he should remain the starter, Osweiler said:

"I'm not focused on that. ... The focus moving forward will be San Diego and very quick. We're coming onto a short week. We know that San Diego is going to give us their best shot. They have a lot of talented players. I'm not concerned with the quarterback situation. I'm going to show up whether I'm the starter or whether I'm the backup. I'm going to prepare the same exact way. I'm going to be the same exact guy in that building regardless of the situation. The focus needs to be on San Diego.''

Manning did not practice with the team last week but had four throwing sessions, including one on Sunday, that included members of the Broncos' strength and conditioning staff as well as practice squad wide receiver Jordan Taylor.

"He was good. He worked really well last week,'' Kubiak said Tuesday. "The week before we went a couple days and didn't get through Friday. Last week we got through, actually four days when all was said and done because he worked some more Sunday. ... He had four good days of work. We'll sit down and talk about it and see where we go from there.''