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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- **Once again, Head Coach Gary Kubiak wasted no time naming his starting quarterback for next Sunday, announcing that Brock Osweiler will start against the New England Patriots while Peyton Manning continues to recover from foot, shoulder and rib-cage injuries.
"We said that we would go back and review the entire situation at the beginning of this week, which we have done. Basically nothing has changed," Kubiak said. "We made the decision we made last week. We think this is best for Peyton and for our football team right now. That's the way we will proceed. Like I said, we're all in on the next football game."
Manning spent the weekend in rehabilitation work before traveling to Charlotte, N.C. Monday for an appointment with a foot specialist.
"We encourage all our players to get a second opinion on those types of things," Kubiak said. "We shouldn't read anything into it. It was a decision made on Saturday. It's taking place today, and then we will know more [Tuesday]."
Kubiak added that the rumors that spread Sunday night regarding Manning thinking about playing another season potentially for another team were "totally false."
"I can just tell you for there to be any rumors or anything he said that his mindset is anywhere other than getting healthy and helping this football team, I can tell you is totally false," Kubiak said. "I visit with this guy on a regular basis and we talk all the time.
"I can tell you his mindset is a day at a time trying to get healthy and all those things and help his football [team]. That's all he talks to me about. That's all that's important to him right now. That's disappointing. There are going to be things out there and things said, but I know what's going on. I know how hard he is working to get back and help his football team."
And to support that team, Kubiak added, even though Manning is "frustrated" with his injury.
"That part is frustrating for him, but he is very excited for his football team," said Kubiak, who added that he had a "good long conversation" with the quarterback.
"He's happy for his team that we won a big game [Sunday]. I can tell you that he is doing everything he can possibly do to get himself healthy and get back in position to get back on the field. Going through stuff like this is aggravating for anybody, but his frame of mind is as good as it can be."
Osweiler went 20-of-27 for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos' 17-15 win at Chicago on Sunday. Most significantly, he avoided any major mistakes, with no interceptions, giving the Broncos their first game without an interception this season.
"His team played [well] for him. That's the most important thing," Kubiak said.
Osweiler will become the 54th quarterback to make one of his first 16 starts as a pro against a Bill Belichick-led Patriots team. The previous quarterbacks are 14-39 in those games.
