Dre Greenlaw played just 34 defensive snaps over nearly 19 months due to Achilles and quad injuries.
He made an impact in 21 snaps two weeks ago for the Broncos against the New York Giants, but then had to sit out again due to a suspension stemming from a postgame incident in which the NFL said he “verbally threatened” referee Brad Allen.
Now Greenlaw’s back to work with Denver this week and Thursday took accountability for the sequence after Wil Lutz’s 39-yard game-winning field goal against the Giants.
“I just shouldn’t have put my teammates and my team in that position,” Greenlaw said. “That was just an emotional game, first game back. Just turnt.”
Greenlaw appealed but had the suspension upheld.
“Honestly, they didn’t tell me,” Greenlaw said when asked if his language was what drew the suspension instead of a hefty fine. “We showed clips or whatever, but they’re going to make their decision and all you can do is do what they tell you.”
The seventh-year pro knows Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans as well as anybody. Ryans was Greenlaw’s inside linebackers coach his first two years in the NFL and then his defensive coordinator two years after that.
Now Greenlaw will square off against Ryans’ team this weekend.
“Just whip the Texans’ butt. That’s all I can think of,” Greenlaw said. “I’ve been watching them all week.”
The Broncos defense fared well without Greenlaw early in the season and again Sunday in a 44-24 win against the Cowboys, but defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said his return can only help.
“Having your best players back is always a good thing,” Joseph said.
Greenlaw, though, said he doesn’t think he needs to try to do too much.
“The defense is already a really, really good defense, man,” he said. “We’ve got top-notch guys from the back to the front. So the sky’s the limit for what we’ve done and what we’ve still got to do. We’ve still got plenty more out there, still got plays we can get better at and all those different things.
“For me, it’s not about me coming in and trying to do more or be more or anything. It’s just about going out there and being myself. That’s why they brought me here. I like to play football and I like to be myself while I’m doing it.”
Greenlaw played 21 snaps two weeks ago and was set to ramp up gradually. After a week off, how much does he feel like he can handle Sunday?
“I can go all day,” he said with a smile.
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