Published: October 04, 2007 11:58 pm      

BILLS: Greer helping Bills defense

Jabari Greer couldn’t help feeling elated after the Bills practiced Wednesday. Surrounded by his teammates, Greer listened as head coach Dick Jauron announced he had captured AFC defensive player of the week honors.

After the hooting and hollering was over, the backup cornerback humbly received congratulations, just as he selflessly accepts his role as a third-stringer on a Bills defense riddled with injuries.

“I think it’s a blessing,” Greer said. “I think it’s great to be acknowledged, but one of the most fulfilling things is just being able to go out there and be appreciated by the guys, because these are the guys that we’re with everyday.”

“That was a real good feeling and a real nice thing to be able to end practice on,” Jauron said.

Jauron’s good feelings carried into Thursday: injured linebacker Keith Ellison looks like he’ll be able to return Monday when Buffalo hosts Dallas. Ellison, recovering from a high ankle sprain sustained in the Bills preseason finale, practiced for the second straight day.

“It’s been a pleasant surprise,” Jauron said.

Greer earned the award by picking off his first career pass and making five tackles in Buffalo’s 17-14 win over the New York Jets Sunday, a victory that snapped a five-game losing streak dating back to last year. Playing in relief of Ashton Youboty, who left in the first quarter with an ankle injury, Greer stepped in to help a Bills defense that allowed a season-low 60 yards on the ground.

Going in, the banged-up Bills defense was ranked last in the league, thanks in large part to having six players unavailable due to injury, including three starters who have already been lost for the year. When Youboty went down, Greer, an undrafted free agent signed by Buffalo in 2004, stepped in flawlessly.

His interception of a Chad Pennington pass with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter set up the Bills’ second touchdown, which iced the game.

“I just know that this is a volatile league ... things will either go your way or against you,” Greer said.

Things hadn’t been going Greer’s way early on. After a solid preseason, he was dropped to third on the cornerback depth chart behind starter Jason Webster and Youboty. But after Webster went on IR with a broken forearm sustained in the season opener, and Youboty injured his ankle, it was Greer’s time to show what he could do.

Youboty did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, so Greer will likely get the start on Monday night against the Cowboys and a prolific offense led by Tony Romo, the second-ranked quarterback in the league.

“I think with the quarterback that has the release and the patience and intangibles that Tony Romo has, it definitely does present another challenge for corners as far as discipline and as far as sticking to receivers longer than normal,” Greer said.

The Bills secondary is in for another change against the Cowboys, as strong safety Donte Whitner will play some free safety in place of the injured Jim Leonhard (calf). That leaves five-year veteran Bryan Scott, who the Bills signed three weeks ago, to play strong safety, a position he is more suited for.

“Donte’s role will change a little bit,” Jauron said. “He will be doing some multiple things, and he should be able to help Bryan some.”