Dre Greenlaw is set to return to the field for the Denver Broncos in Week 9 against the Houston Texans, and the veteran linebacker spoke candidly about his absence in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Greenlaw served a one-game suspension for using what the league called “abusive language” towards official Brad Allen in Week 7, when the Broncos beat the New York Giants.
Greenlaw is ready to show why the Broncos targeted him in free agency.
Dre Greenlaw Ready to Prove Broncos Right
GettyDre Greenlaw is a fitting mentor for Broncos prospect JB Brown.
Greenlaw met with the media on Thursday for the first time since the NFL upheld his suspension, which came without pay.
Despite his appeal, Greenlaw put the onus on himself to avoid situations that harm the team.
“I just shouldn’t have put my teammates and the team in that position. That was just a emotional game. First game back, just turnt. And so, yeah,” Greenlaw told reporters on October 30. “Of course, you want to be out there. Anytime you got a game, you want to be out there. But, just whip the Texans. That’s all I can think of. So, I’ve been watching them all week.”
Greenlaw said “it felt good” making his debut in Week 7 after suffering a quad injury, which delayed his return to the field for the first time since Week 16 of the 2024 season with the San Francisco 49ers. He is looking to build on that.
“The defense is already a really, really good defense,’’ Greenlaw said, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Thomasson. “We got top-notch guys from the back end to the front end. So the sky is the limit for what we have done and what we still got to do. We still got plenty more out there. … For me, it’s not about me coming in and trying to do more, be more or anything; it’s just about me going out there and being myself. That’s why they brought me here.”
Dre Greenlaw Left In Dark Over Suspension Trigger
GettyFormer San Francisco 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw #57 looks on against the Los Angeles Rams.
Greenlaw, who inked a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Broncos in free agency this past offseason, said the league did not specify which part of what he said triggered the suspension.
“They just re-showed clips or whatever,” Greenlaw said. “They’re going to make their decision, and all you can do is just do what they tell you.”
The NFL executive vice president, Troy Vincent, called Greenlaw’s actions “unacceptable.”
“People say, ‘Well, what did he say?’ I think we should ask Dre that. Maybe he shared with his coach what was actually shared. But there’s just no place in the game to run an official down after a game to share your feelings,” Vincent told Mike Florio on “Pro Football Talk” on October 23. “Game’s over. Celebrate the victory.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton pointed to past precedent, saying such interactions typically result in fines during his media availability on October 22.
Vincent acknowledged the NFL made an example out of Greenlaw.
Dre Greenlaw Could Stay on Snap Count
GettyDenver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph gets to work with a re-tooled secondary in 2025.
Greenlaw said that he can “go all day” on Sunday, which would be a big boost for a Broncos defense that will be without All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II for several weeks due to a strained pectoral muscle.
However, the Broncos eased Greenlaw back into the lineup in his return, and they could continue with that plan in Week 9.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph praised Greenlaw, but offered a reality check.
“Mentally, he’s been awesome. He’s been locked in. He’s been studying. Even when he wasn’t practicing, he’s taking the walkthrough reps. He’s taking every walkthrough rep. So, mentally, he’s fine. Physically, obviously, he needs more reps to kind of get his football air. And he was a little tired Week [8], but um it’s good having him back. Again, you having your best players back is always a good thing,” Joseph told reporters on October 30.
“He’s back on his schedule to kind of just keep moving forward, and playing good football, and keep practicing, and keep growing as a player. And to have a chance to play back-to-back weeks is going to be key for Dre, and that’s the goal.”
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