Peyton Manning returns for Denver Broncos but role remains a question

Peyton Manning will find himself in unfamiliar position Sunday when he backs up Denver Broncos starter Brock Osweiler against the San Diego Chargers, but he insists he is just happy to be part of the action again.

The 39-year-old quarterback has not played since a disastrous display against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 15 when he went completed five of 20 passes for 35 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in a 29-13 Broncos loss.

That performance prompted Denver to pull Manning from the starting line-up to give him time to heal from various injuries including a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

In Manning's absence, Osweiler has gone 4-2, including overtime wins against AFC play-off rivals the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals, and has thrown eight touchdowns and three interceptions in his six starts.

Osweiler's play has been solid if far from spectacular but solid quarterback play exceeds what Manning was able to deliver prior to his injury.

Manning managed just nine touchdowns in his nine starts and threw 17 interceptions - a figure which still leads the NFL despite the fact he has missed the last six games.

Now the future Hall of Famer will be forced to hold a clipboard as he watches Osweiler lead the team against San Diego but he insists it is a role he is happy to embrace.

"I'll do what I can to help the team, help Brock, and I'm happy to be more a part of it now than just being in street clothes and kind of quarantined in the indoor facility, working out on my own," Manning said. "To be more a part of a team is a positive step.

"I've never missed six weeks of time. I've never missed any significant time, really, besides four years ago when I was hurt with a neck injury.

"It's been a frustrating injury, but I had a good week of rehab last week, a good week of work on my own in the indoor facility.

"Whatever I can do to get a win against the Chargers, that's where my focus is."

Head coach Gary Kubiak has fielded a constant stream of questions about who would start at quarterback once Manning returned but has remained coy on the subject and continued to do so at his weekly press conference.

When asked if Manning would remain as a back-up for the playoffs, Kubiak replied: "I don't want to go that far.

"Like I said, Brock is our quarterback and nothing has changed from that standpoint. Peyton's availability - that is a change for us.

"The team knows Brock is our quarterback and he is doing a hell of a job. Let's just keep moving forward and we will go from there."

Despite Kubiak's reluctance to publicly state Osweiler will definitely be the team's starter for the play-offs, the decision not to start Manning is telling because there is plenty at stake for Denver in their regular-season finale against San Diego.

The Broncos must win to be certain of clinching a fifth consecutive AFC West title and fourth straight first-round bye in the playoffs.

A win for the Broncos, combined with a loss by the New England Patriots against the Miami Dolphins, will hand Denver the No 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage all the way up to the Super Bowl.

Looking beyond this season, Manning has one year left on his contract in Denver and his future with the Broncos is a big question mark.

Manning is scheduled to make $19m in base salary in 2016.

Broncos general manager John Elway insisted he take a $4m pay cut (from $19m to $15m) before agreeing to his return for this season and given his alarming drop-off in performance, combined with his seeming incompatibility with Kubiak's offensive system, it appears unlikely he will be back next season.  

Osweiler is an unrestricted free agent after this season and given the lack of quarterbacks in the league, he is likely to command a big salary.

There is no way Denver can pay them both, especially given the fact defensive stars Von Miller, Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe are also scheduled to hit free agency.

Manning has also been in the news this week over the latest claims in an Al Jazeera documentary that allege human-growth hormone was shipped to his wife under her name.

Manning briefly addressed the matter while speaking to reporters saying he was "still angry" over the claims and has not yet decided whether he would pursue legal action against Al Jazeera.

"I don't have a whole lot to add to what I said on Sunday," Manning said. "The report wasn't true Sunday; it's not true today; it won't ever be true."

The NFL is still reviewing the matter and has not yet decided what, if any, course of action they intend to take but Manning hopes they act swiftly to clear to his name.

"I'd be glad if they come in here tonight, tomorrow, and do it and get it over with," Manning said. "The sooner the better, if they're listening."