Updated: 1:30 p.m.
Brock Osweiler will receive quite the birthday present on Sunday: the starting quarterback job for the Denver Broncos.
The Kalispell product and backup quarterback will get his first NFL start on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, head coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Monday afternoon.
The latest reports out of Denver are that starting quarterback Peyton Manning is injured, meaning Osweiler will earn the starting job for the 7-2 Broncos, for now.
That day — Nov. 22 — is Osweiler’s birthday; he’ll turn 25. It will be the first time a Montana quarterback started an NFL game since Ryan Leaf for the Dallas Cowboys against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, 2001.
Osweiler, in the final year of his rookie contract, has gained a reputation for preparing for this opportunity. Who knows how long he will keep the starting job, and that could depend on several factors, none greater than Manning’s health.
Osweiler saw his first game action of the season abruptly on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the third quarter, Kubiak benched Manning, who broke the all-time passing yards record held by Brett Favre earlier in the day. Manning finished five of 20 for 35 yards and four interceptions. His quarterback rating ended at 0.0.
Osweiler came into the game with the Broncos trailing 22-0. He was 17 of 30 for 159 yards passing with one touchdown in the previous three seasons as a backup.
The 2008-09 Flathead High School graduate led two scoring drives and finished 14 of 24 for 146 yards with a TD and interception. Besides the interception, two other passes were also nearly picked off by the Chiefs defense as Osweiler struggled at times under pressure. He did remind Kalispell fans of his athleticism, though, and gained 18 yards rushing, proving he is more mobile than most 6-foot-7 players.
After the 29-13 loss, Kubiak said Manning would start if the 39-year-old quarterback is healthy. Osweiler also showed support for the starter and said, “Right now Peyton’s our quarterback.”
Click here to view Osweiler’s post-game interview.
A somber Manning gave Osweiler credit after the game.
“I was proud of Brock and tried to help him,” he told reporters. “I thought he went in there and made some plays and got us a couple of scores. Not ideal circumstances for him to go into a game down 22-0 knowing that you have to throw every single time. I thought he went in there and did well.”