Manning won't be in Osweiler's ear for first start

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Peyton Manning isn't giving Brock Osweiler any unsolicited advice this week as his longtime understudy prepares for his first NFL start.

"I'm not a coach, for one thing," Manning said. "As I shared with him, he's probably going to have a lot of coaches this week - some who aren't coaches - that are going to be offering him tips of advice."

So, Manning told Osweiler he'd be there for any questions he might have, "but I'm not going to be one of those extra voices in his ear."

Manning will be too busy trying to get healthy from a variety of injuries - foot, shoulder, ribs - that led to his playing the worst game of his career on the same day he became the league's all-time passing yards leader Sunday.

That prompted coach Gary Kubiak to make the switch with the Broncos (7-2) in a two-game slide heading into their game at Chicago (4-5).

Instead of making his 265th regular-season start Sunday, Manning will be in street clothes for the first time in his career, other than the season he missed following neck fusion surgery.

Osweiler will be making his first start since Dec. 22, 2011, when he threw for nearly 400 yards in Arizona State's 56-24 loss to Boise State in the MAACO Bowl.

"Peyton has been extremely supportive of me. He just said, "If you need anything throughout the week, I'm here for you. I support you 100 percent and go get a win in Chicago,'" Osweiler said.

Manning will spend all week with head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos while the Broncos coaches put in a game plan for Osweiler, the fourth-year QB who turns 25 Sunday.

"I told Brock when I first walked in, "This is totally a blessing for you to be behind Peyton learning from him.' I think that it's a great opportunity for Brock to get in, play this game and show what he can do," said tight end Vernon Davis, whom the Broncos obtained in a trade from the 49ers earlier this month.

"I'm not worried. I'm not worried at all," Davis said. "I think that he'll do a tremendous job leading this team, being a leader and taking over until Peyton is able to come back."

And Manning stands behind Osweiler.

Quietly.