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Buffalo Bills will face Broncos' stud LB returning from injury in Divisional Round

The Denver linebacker was brought in this past offseason to bolster the team's toughness on defense.
Alex Brasky|
Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) reacts after a play during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) reacts after a play during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. | Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

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A star Broncos defender will return to action when Denver faces the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s Divisional Round.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw will make his way back to action following a two-game absence caused by a hamstring injury, as he was not marked with an injury designation, per the team's official injury report. Greenlaw began the week as a limited practice participant but was upgraded to full on Thursday. He last played in Week 16.

The 28-year-old is set to bolster a Broncos’ defense that will try to slow down a Buffalo offense coming off an explosive performance in the Wild Card Round.

RELATED: Five important Bills' players questionable vs. Broncos in Divisional Round

Ready to go

Greenlaw has appeared in eight games for Denver during the 2025 campaign, as injuries to his quad and hamstring have hampered his first year with the team since signing a free-agent contract this past offseason. He previously spent the first six seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.

During his time on the field this season, Greenlaw has recorded 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. The veteran LB is a stout run defender, which was a significant reason for his addition entering the year. He and safety Talanoa Hufanga, another player added by the team through free agency this past offseason, have helped the Broncos become one of the most feared rush defenses in the league this season.

MORE: Buffalo Bills will be without 2 key players against Broncos in Divisional Round

Dre Greenlaw
Nov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga (9) and Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) celebrate after a play during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. | Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

Up against it

Greenlaw and company will try and limit the Bills’ vaunted rush offense, powered by running back James Cook, who finished the season as the league’s leading rusher. While the additions of Greenlaw and Hufanga have made a significant difference, Cook has a history of success against this Broncos’ defense, which returns plenty of contributors from a season ago.

In the Wild Card Round last season, Cook recorded 120 of the Bills’ 210 yards rushing, adding a touchdown during a 31-7 rout.

Buffalo is hoping for much of the same this time around, when it takes on the Broncos in a postseason rematch this weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High.

James Cook
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) gets taken down by Denver Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman (92) during the second half of the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Alex Brasky
ALEX BRASKY

Alex Brasky is editor of Bills Digest and host of the Buffalo Pregame podcast. He has been on the Bills beat the past six seasons and now joins Sports Illustrated hoping to expand his coverage of Buffalo’s favorite football team.

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