DENVER — Now the gamesmanship truly is kicking in, with another injury clouding projections on which quarterback will start for the Broncos on Monday Night Football.  

Brock, with his bum shoulder that needed X-Rays?

Or Peyton, with a resume that deserves a second opinion?

Keep the Bengals guessing. That’s the first order of business. Day after the Broncos played a sensational first half — “The best first half of football I’ve ever been around offensively,” Gary Kubiak said today — then blew a 17-point lead in a 34-27 loss at Pittsburgh, they were noncommital as to which quarterback will be the starter in Week 16 against Cincinnati.

“We’re starting over. We’re dealing from scratch,” Kubiak said of a QB controversy that took another, and probably unfair turn, Sunday night at Heinz Field.

“I have not talked to Peyton since the end of the game,” Kubiak said.

“My assumption is we’ll get back to that (process) on Wednesday,” he added.

The new development: Kubiak said Manning would suit up Monday night if he’s physically capable of playing. Sunday night, Manning was on the sideline in a sweatsuit and beanie.

“We’re trying to work him back to where we feel like he can go play and go be himself,” Kubiak said. “That’s been the plan all along. We’re not there yet. Like I said, nothing has changed from that point.”

The Broncos have other, painful issues as well.

Broncos safety David Bruton Jr., a virtual captain on defense, sustained a fractured fibula on play 15 or 16 of the game. Think about that: Bruton broke his leg, played the majority of the game and endured a despicable cheapshot to the dome from Pittsburgh lineman Cody Wallace. Bruton’s plight will come into consideration next time I dream about a sick day. 

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can use an extra day,” Kubiak said.

What happened in the Pittsburgh meltdown? Penalties and a lack of execution, Kubiak said. The Broncos were flagged 12 times for 127 yards. The Steelers? Nine for 63.

Osweiler was scheduled to undergo X-Rays on his injured shoulder today. 

“All indications are he will be OK,” Kubiak said.

The Steelers took full advantage of a Broncos secondary missing multiple key players. Darian Stewart worked out on the field prior to kickoff, but the Broncos believed putting the starting safety on the field could be a setback for the final two weeks of the season. T.J. Ward is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

And that was bad news against Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown, the best player I’ve seen go against the Broncos over the past three-plus seasons. Brown has jets in his kicks and Spidey sense for hands..

“I know who I’d be voting for MVP,” Kubiak said.

What it all adds up to is a stressful, white-knuckle two weeks for the Broncos. Here’s a handy guide to their playoff scenarios, which could result in the No. 1 seed or missing the playoffs entirely. But the quarterback decision must wait.

Twitter: @bypaulklee