After a strong rookie year, “Buffalo Joe” is looking to prove he’s more than just a great story line
The Buffalo Bills have improved their linebacker depth over the last few seasons. Some of that improvement has come out of necessity, as injuries forced young players to step into the lineup, endure growing pains, and improve on the fly. Some of those improvements have also come as the result of solid signings and shrewd drafting.
The Bills generally play with two linebackers on the field, although they showed a willingness last year to use three linebackers against certain run-heavy clubs like the Baltimore Ravens. Perhaps coincidentally, that team is the first real opponent Buffalo will face this season, as they open their 2025 season with a date with Baltimore on September 7.
Which linebackers will step in and try to slow Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson? In this installment of our “90 players in 90 days” series, we discuss one hometown hero who has a chance to be that guy.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Joe Andreessen
Number: 44
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 232 pounds
Age: 25 (26 on 2/7/2026)
Experience/Draft: 2; signed with Buffalo following the 2024 NFL Draft
College: Buffalo
Acquired: UDFA signing
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Andreessen enters the middle season of the three-year contract he signed last spring. The deal is worth $2,832,500 overall. For the 2025 season, Andreessen’s cap hit is $969,338 as a member of the 53-man roster. If released, Buffalo would carry a dead-cap charge of $10,172 for the season.
2024 Recap: Andreessen had an impressive training camp after signing with the Bills following a tryout at rookie minicamp. He just kept making plays throughout the summer, and he made the 53-man roster on the back of his strong preseason and practice performances.
Andreessen was a healthy scratch for the Bills’ first two games, but he made his professional debut in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a nationally televised game on ESPN. He appeared in 13 games during the regular season and was a fixture for the club on special teams from that point forward.
Overall, Andreessen played on over 70% of Buffalo’s special teams snaps, notching a team-high eight tackles in that phase of the game. He totaled 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit in the regular season, which includes a ten-tackle performance across 64 defensive snaps in the regular-season finale against the New England Patriots, his lone start.
Andreessen made two special teams tackles during the playoffs, as he did not appear on defense during those three games.
Positional outlook: Andreessen has played the role of backup middle linebacker, slotting in behind starter Terrel Bernard this preseason. He’s also seen some time as a weakside ‘backer behind Matt Milano, as the Bills experimented with Dorian Williams at MLB, as well. Shaq Thompson is current the team’s only other linebacker.
2025 Offseason: Andreessen is healthy and has participated in all offseason team activities. He’s been a major story line in this summer’s edition of Hard Knocks.
2025 Season outlook: Andreessen has had an up-and-down summer, playing very poorly at times (see the preseason debacle against the Chicago Bears) and then playing far better (see the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The drop-off from Bernard to Andreessen is a crater, but that’s less a knock on Andreessen than it is to say just how good Bernard is.
If Andreessen is allowed to do what he does best, which is find returners and crush them on special teams, and slot in as a run-down, sub-package linebacker against heavy offenses, he will be fine. If he has to cover 20 yards of space in the passing game, he’s going to struggle — not from a lack of athleticism, to be clear, but more due to a lack of comfort and instinct.
How does one become more comfortable doing something with which they struggle? Glad you asked, rhetorical questioner. They improve by practicing that action and continuing to become more comfortable. That’s why it’s been a good thing for Andreessen to have these struggles in August, as the experience will only make him better in the long term.
The Bills obviously hope for good health with Bernard, as he’s able to do things that most players just can’t. He’s the perfect fit for a middle linebacker in this defense. However, if Andreessen has to step in, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott won’t do what they did in the preseason and just treat Andreessen like he’s Bernard. They’ll scheme things where Buffalo Joe can be successful, just as they would with anyone else.
Category: General Sports
