DENVER (CBS4) – Former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer is friends with current backup to Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, who also played for Arizona State University. Plummer says Osweiler has been in a tough situation.

“He’s in a tough spot, really, because you’re behind a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest to every play the game, ever to play that position in Peyton Manning,” Plummer said.

CBS4’s Vic Lombardi recently asked new head coach Gary Kubiak about Osweiler’s situation.

“His work is tremendous. You know if you go back years ago that’s the way quarterbacks were raised. Maybe this is going to be a blessing in disguise for him that he’s getting an opportunity to learn from Peyton, to work through the process before something gets turned over to him,” Kubiak said.

“Yet you know you have the abilities and the talent to probably start for 20 teams in the NFL,” Plummer said.

Plummer said with Osweiler’s arm and his mental ability, he would definitely be able to start for that many teams.

“And how he treats his teammates and his leadership. And that’s just from knowing him a little bit,” Plummer said.

But Plummer said he believes Osweiler will be rewarded for being patient.

“It’s tough though, very tough; I know he wants to play,” he said.

This is a contract year for Osweiler, so how does he go into the season knowing that he might not get a chance to show off his skills?

“He is competing for the starting job. That sounds ludicrous to say that with Peyton Manning, but he has, in my mind, the arm that this offense almost requires,” Plummer said. “He’s got a big, big league arm, so he’s got to just be patient. He’s learning so much behind Peyton, but he needs reps.”

Plummer said Osweiler needs to get some action to make some mistakes and throw some interceptions.

“Make a bad read so he knows not to do it again. He’ll get there, he’ll have his chance, hopefully,” he said.

Watch more of the video with Jake Plummer in the Xfinity Monday Live! section.

– By Matthew J. Buettner, CBSDenver.com