It's not a novel concept by any means, but the Broncos have been loathe even to discuss it. Still, Peyton Manning's January health is an ongoing concern.
As Denver inches closer toward the playoffs, coach Gary Kubiak will undoubtedly get the question of whether he plans to shut down his future Hall of Fame quarterback to have him rested and healthy for the playoffs -- and if so, when will Manning acquiesce to backup Brock Osweiler?
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Manning enters the Broncos game Sunday against the Chiefs battling a bout of plantar fasciitis - an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Manning plans on playing, but the Broncos have seen first-hand how an ailing Manning affects Denver's postseason hopes. He played with a torn right quadriceps muscle in December of 2014 and never was the same for the team's playoff run.
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That has raised questions about how to deal with the 39-year-old's current injury.
"If Peyton Manning isn't healthy, the Broncos should not play him Sunday at Sports Authority Field," the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. "Don't play him against a Chiefs defense that piled up six sacks in its most recent game. Don't play him against a motivated Kansas City club coming off a bye week."
That advice is due to the Broncos' 24-13 loss to the Colts in the AFC Divisional Playoff round last postseason, and Manning's play during the end of the 2014 regular season was subpar.
Not that coach Gary Kubiak shares any of those concerns about Manning.
"If he can play - if he can go out and do all the things he normally does -- we need him to lead our football team," Kubiak said, according to the Gazette.
Manning also addressed his health situation during the week, BSNDenver.com reported.
"Who's not sore during-what week is this? Week 9, 10?" Manning said with a smirk on his face when asked earlier this week. "You have natural soreness, but get some treatment on it and hopefully get a little better tomorrow."
Ironically, Kubiak already had addressed the question in October, according to Pro Football Talk. Kubiak said then that he was not planning to bench Manning. But that was much earlier in the season.
Now, the Broncos are 7-1 and have a three-game lead over the second-place Raiders and should be able to qualify for the playoffs.
If a week off will help Manning recover from the plantar fasciitis, the Kubiak should consider it. Or else all the Broncos will have to celebrate is another dominant regular season.
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