Brock Osweiler will make his fifth start of the season this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Beyond Sunday sits a floating cloud of possibilities.
Coach Gary Kubiak declined to name a starter for the rest of the season after Peyton Manning returned to the practice field this week.
Some will view Sunday's tilt against the Steelers as a referendum on Osweiler for the rest of the season: If the Broncos win he probably stays under center, suffer another loss and Denver could go back to Manning after the two-game skid.
The young quarterback, however, isn't viewing it as an audition.
"I don't look at it like that. I'm simply looking at it as it's another football game," Osweiler said, via the team's official website. "I'm just focused on doing my job this week. Whatever happens in the future happens in the future. That really doesn't pertain to me right now. That's out of my control. What I can control is my preparation this week for the Steelers, and that's where my focus is."
Osweiler has been steady under center, which is more than we can say about Manning for the majority of his starts this season. The young quarterback hasn't killed the Broncos offense, but hasn't wowed either. He's simply a better chess piece for the offense Kubiak wants to run.
Last week's loss wasn't on Osweiler. The offensive line got destroyed by Khalil Mack and couldn't punch holes in the run game.
How this week's game plays out could determine whether it's Brock's last start of the season or it adds another signature win for the young quarterback ahead of a postseason run. Either way, he's not fretting.
