Greg Rousseau Leads Bills Pass Rush Breakout in 2026 Season

Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau has emerged as the NFL's top pass rusher through four games of the 2026 season, leading the league in sacks while helping a young defense improve under coordinator Jim Leonhard's new system.

According to Bills ON SI, Rousseau entered Week 5 with six sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, eight tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. The Bills defense had allowed 26.8 points per game, ranking 25th in the league, while the pass rush produced 10 sacks.

Rousseau's early-season performance earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for September, according to Bills ON SI. The sixth-year outside linebacker also recorded two sacks in each of Buffalo's first three games against Houston, Detroit, and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Former NFL offensive lineman Terron Armstead said he had expected Rousseau's improvement after facing him during AFC East matchups from 2022 to 2024.

"When I played for the Miami Dolphins, and (I was) battling against the Buffalo Bills twice a year, Greg Rousseau was a guy that I always felt like was primed to break out at some point. Now, I didn’t know when it would happen, but he had everything—speed, size, strength, the awareness, (and) he was smart—and I’ve just been waiting on this season," said Terron Armstead, former NFL offensive lineman.

Armstead, a 2018 All-Pro selection and five-time Pro Bowl player, said Rousseau's development was visible during their previous meetings. In seven games against Armstead's teams, Rousseau recorded 23 tackles and 4.5 sacks, according to Bills ON SI.

"It’s happening right now before our eyes. We’re watching a star (be) born," said Terron Armstead, former NFL offensive lineman.

Armstead also highlighted Rousseau as a key player for Buffalo's Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. He pointed to Rousseau and running back James Cook III as possible difference-makers for the Bills.

"The Rams are getting healthy. Puka’s back. Matt Stafford’s getting more into that groove—him, Davante, (and) all the things—but Greg Rousseau is leading the NFL in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits," said Terron Armstead, former NFL offensive lineman.