Peyton Manning not close to return

All the speculation over returning Brock Osweiler to his backup role with the Denver Broncos when Peyton Manning gets back could prove a waste of time.

Manning isn’t close to being healthy.

The 39-year-quarterback told a select group of news outlets Wednesday, including the Associated Press, that he has no idea when he’ll play again.

Sitting at his locker to take the weight off his injured left foot, Manning said during a nine-minute interview that his focus isn’t on his future or who starts at quarterback for the Broncos (9-2).

“That’s so far ahead of what I’m thinking about,” Manning said. “I’m doing what Coach [Gary] Kubiak asked me to do, is to try to get healthy. I’m following his instructions and I look forward to being healthy yesterday, I can assure you. This cast is kind of like a holding pattern. Everybody asks, ‘Is it better? Is it better?’ The answer is: I don’t know because I’m not putting any pressure on it and it’s sort of immobilized.

“But the idea is for it to help toward the healing process. But there’s no guarantee whatsoever. So, all the other questions and speculation, I don’t have anything for you on that.”

Luck can’t practice

Andrew Luck feels good enough to throw some passes. The Indianapolis quarterback is still not healthy enough to return to practice yet.

On Wednesday, Luck said he has cleared one more hurdle in his recovery from a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle and that he’s eager to get back on the field.

“It’s been a fair, intense amount of throwing, I’d say,” Luck said, acknowledging he’s so far been pain free. What remains unclear is how much more time he could miss.

Etc.

Although he remains in NFL-mandated concussion-monitoring protocol, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice Wednesday after agreeing to take a second cognitive brain function test earlier in the day. ...

Darrelle Revis is still in concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain for the New York Jets’ game Sunday against the Giants. The star cornerback was injured at Houston on Nov. 22 and sat out the Jets’ 38-20 victory over Miami last Sunday.

Revis has not practiced since being hurt and Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that he hasn’t been able to attend team meetings. Marcus Williams started in Revis’ place against the Dolphins, but sprained his left knee on an interception return. Williams sat out practice Wednesday and his availability for the Giants game is also unknown. ...

The San Diego Chargers have fired special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer with five games left in a miserable season. Spencer was fired three days after Jacksonville used an 11-man rush to block a punt by Mike Scifres with 1:30 to go, leading to a touchdown that pulled the Jaguars to 31-25. San Diego (3-8) held on to end its six-game losing streak.