Denver Broncos week 17 injury report: Manning to be backup for first time

For the first time since his freshman year at Tennessee, quarterback legend Peyton Manning will be listed as the backup for the season finale against the San Diego Chargers.

Manning, who has a partial tear on for plantar fascia suffered against the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 8, has not seen the field since Nov. 15, a game in which he was benched after throwing his fourth interception. The 18-year vet told media that he is willing to help the team any way he can, even if that means backing young Brock Osweiler.

This is the first time all season that head coach Gary Kubiak did not start Friday’s press conference with a player “out” for the upcoming week. Both T.J. Ward and Brandon Marshall are both listed as questionable for the final home game of the regular season but are expected to play.

“I would say T.J. has practiced like he is ready to go,” Kubiak said. “The good news is a week from now, two weeks from now I think he’ll be pretty close to 100 percent.”

Both Ward and Marshall are pivotal parts of the league’s No.1 defense and both Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips know they would rather have them ready to go in two weeks rather than Sunday. This seems to be the perfect time for everybody to be healthy.

Denver has something to play for this week against the AFC West foe. A win and Denver gets the two seed in the AFC Playoff, a loss and some help by a few other teams knocks Denver all the way to sixth in the Standings; look for Denver to be ready to go Sunday.