Osweiler passes physical, officially on Broncos roster again

Just more than a year after Brock Osweiler opted to sign with the Houston Texans, the former second-round draft pick is once again with the Denver Broncos.

Osweiler officially passed a physical on Monday, which was the only remaining hurdle in bring back the quarterback on a one-year deal after he was released by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.

“… I think with the opportunity we had to get Brock back, we’re excited about that opportunity to have that experience there with Brock,” general manager John Elway said on Saturday. “Plus, with Paxton (Lynch), you never know with the throwing shoulder.”

Lynch, who is slated to backup now-second-year starter Trevor Siemian, sprained his throwing shoulder in the team’s Week 3 bout with the Green Bay Packers and could be out several weeks.

Until Lynch’s return, Osweiler will play the role of backup, Elway said.

“I’m sure it’s been a tough one for him,” Elways said of the last year for Osweiler, who was traded to Cleveland in March after Houston had benched him late last season in favor of Tom Savage.

“I’m sure with everything he went through in Houston and then going to Cleveland, I’m sure he’s going to need a little football rehab. We know that,” Elway said. “We’ll welcome him with open arms and give him some love.”

During the Broncos run to a Super Bowl 50 victory, Osweiler went 5-2 in relief of a sidelined Peyton Manning.

However, in the regular season finale, Osweiler was benched just after halftime in favor of Manning, who would not relinquish the starting role throughout the playoffs.

After Osweiler signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Texans in the 2016 offseason, which followed the retirement of Manning, speculation spread about hurt feelings between the young quarterback and the organization about his role with the team late in the 2015 season.

Elway, however, said the idea that there was animosity between the two sides was “not true.

“When Brock made that decision, he made the best decision that he thought was best for him. It’s just kind of funny how these things worked out with our situation and Brock being available — funny how everything aligned,” Elway said.

“We know that Brock can win football games with us. He’s got a lot of experience, and that was one glaring hole we had at that time, in my mind, when Paxton hurt the shoulder.

Osweiler spent much of four seasons as Manning’s backup before earning a starting role with the Texans last season.

In 21 starts during his five-year NFL career, Osweiler’s thrown for 5,083 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, with a completion rate of 59.9 percent.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.