ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have ruled out two key defensive players for their opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday: inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach.
Greenlaw has been bothered by a left quadriceps injury all offseason. After pulling up lame in a one-on-one drill July 31, he was held out of the Broncos' three preseason games and both of their joint practices in training camp.
He missed practice this week, working on a side field instead.
Coach Sean Payton declined to discuss the injuries on Friday. Earlier this week, Payton said the Broncos were taking a conservative approach to Greenlaw's workload: “It's a long season, so most importantly, having him not only healthy early on but for the long haul is the goal.”
Greenlaw, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million free-agent contract with the Broncos this offseason after six years in San Francisco, has dealt with injuries ever since tearing his left Achilles tendon in the 2024 Super Bowl. He played just 36 snaps over two games last year with the 49ers.
Justin Strnad, who filled in last year when inside linebacker Alex Singleton suffered a season-ending knee injury, will likely get the start in place of Greenlaw alongside Singleton. Also on the roster is undrafted rookie Karene Reid and second-year pro Levelle Bailey is on the practice squad.
Roach left practice Thursday with a strained calf. Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson figure to divvy up his snaps on Sunday when the Broncos face quarterback Cam Ward, the top overall draft pick in 2025.
Also out for the game is Broncos tight end Nate Adkins, who recently underwent ankle surgery.
Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who was limited Thursday with a strained hamstring, was a full participant Friday and is clear to play against the Titans.
No Tennessee players were ruled out for the game.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, center, is hit by Denver Broncos linebackers Jonah Elliss, left, Justin Strnad, back right, and Jonathon Cooper in the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerlad Herbert)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation on Saturday sought to reassure Denmark and Greenland of their support following President Donald Trump's threat to punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back the U.S. taking over the strategic Arctic island.
Delegation leader Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said the current rhetoric around Greenland is causing concern across the Danish kingdom. He said he wants to de-escalate the situation.
“I hope that the people of the Kingdom of Denmark do not abandon their faith in the American people,” Coons said in Copenhagen, adding that the U.S. has respect for Denmark and NATO “for all we’ve done together.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people marched through Copenhagen, many of them carrying Greenland’s flag, on Saturday afternoon in support of the self-governing island. Others held signs with slogans like “Make America Smart Again” and “Hands Off.” Another rally was planned in Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital,
Coons' comments contrasted with that emanating from the White House. Trump has sought to justify his calls for a U.S. takeover by repeatedly claiming that China and Russia have their own designs on Greenland, which holds vast untapped reserves of critical minerals. The White House hasn’t ruled out taking the territory by force.
“There are no current security threats to Greenland,” Coons said.
Trump for months has insisted that the U.S. should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in U.S. hands would be “unacceptable.”
During an unrelated event at the White House about rural health care, he recounted Friday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals.
“I may do that for Greenland, too,” Trump said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” he said.
He had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington this week with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That encounter didn’t resolve the deep differences, but did produce an agreement to set up a working group — on whose purpose Denmark and the White House then offered sharply diverging public views.
European leaders have insisted it is only for Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with allies.
“There is almost no better ally to the United States than Denmark,” Coons said. “If we do things that cause Danes to question whether we can be counted on as a NATO ally, why would any other country seek to be our ally or believe in our representations?”
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Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.
People gather for a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
People gather for a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
People march during a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Icicles hang from the roof of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A Danish serviceman walks in front of Joint Arctic Command center in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Senator Chris Coons from the Democratic Party speaks during a press conference with the American delegation, consisting of senators and members of the House of Representatives, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
