Joe Andreessen's role with Bills is growing, plus camp standouts, storylines, trends to watch
After catching the toss from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, second-year running back Ray Davis tried to find a hole in the defense.
After catching the toss from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, second-year running back Ray Davis tried to find a hole in the defense.
All that Davis saw was Joe Andreessen, the linebacker from Lancaster and the University at Buffalo. Andreessen blew up the run before it even began, his latest impressive play during Bills training camp.
Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen runs through a drill during the Return of the Blue and Red practice Friday at Highmark Stadium.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
The Blue and Red practice Friday night at Highmark Stadium was another opportunity for Andreessen to show that he’s deserving of a bigger role in his second NFL season. Andreessen started with the second-team defense because Matt Milano received a veteran rest day and two other linebackers, Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams, are still injured.
Then, Andreessen moved up with the starters because 10-year veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson walked off the field with an athletic trainer. Injuries have led to more time on the field for Andreessen, but the coaching staff had already planned to give him more responsibility.
“They’re expecting more out of me this year. It’s exciting they’re giving me the opportunity, and it’s something to lock in for,” Andreessen told The Buffalo News of his second training camp. “Wake up, take it personally, go out there and make sure I’m confident.”
As a rookie, Andreessen appeared in 13 regular-season games, but most of his action on defense came in Week 18 while the Bills rested their starters against the Patriots. He had 10 tackles and played a total of 86 snaps, 64 on defense. Though Andreessen’s role can expand in 2025, especially if there are injuries, his focus is on earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
Andreessen should be on the field often when the Bills host the New York Giants in the preseason opener Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
Here’s a rundown of what we’ve learned through eight camp practices:
1. Trend watch
We’ve seen more play-action passes early in training camp, as offensive coordinator Joe Brady experiments with schematic adjustments to prepare for the Ravens in Week 1. Even though the Bills gained the ninth-most rushing yards last season, they attempted the third-fewest play-action passes in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. The Bills were effective when they used play-action, ranking fourth in expected points added per pass.On play-action passes, Allen completed 70.8% of his attempts with four touchdowns and three interceptions. This is one area the offense can improve in 2025.
2. Receiver ascent
To this point in training camp, Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir have looked like the Bills’ best receivers. Coleman looks stronger and faster than his rookie season, the product of the 2024 second-round pick learning what it takes to excel in the NFL. Brady has used creative ways to get the ball to Shakir, especially through screens and swing passes. Their mission is to get him open in space because he can be a run-after-catch threat, while Coleman’s directive is to take advantage of the single-high safety looks Buffalo will get because of Allen and the rushing attack.The other player to watch in this group is Joshua Palmer. The 25-year-old receiver understands pacing and how to use physicality at the top of his routes, however, he and Allen are still developing chemistry, especially on deep passes.
3. Rookie standout
Jackson Hawes wasn’t drafted to be a vertical threat in the Bills’ offense. The fifth-round rookie tight end caught just 51 passes for six touchdowns in four seasons between Yale and Georgia Tech. Hawes is a relentless, tenacious blocker, though, and he’s going to earn NFL snaps, especially when Brady wants to use heavy personnel.“He’s brilliant, obviously, he’s an Ivy League guy, but you put the pads on, he’s as nasty as they come,” said Brady. “And the biggest thing with him is it’s not too big for him. He understands it all.”
4. Corners competition
We won’t see much, if any, of Tre’Davious White in the preseason because he already knows the defense and the Bills won’t want to risk losing him to an injury. Dane Jackson may not play much either, since the returning corner also knows the playbook and his responsibilities. Their usage, combined with Maxwell Hairston’s LCL sprain, should lead to significant preseason action for rookie sixth-round pick Dorian Strong and Ja’Marcus Ingram.As a multiyear starter at Virginia Tech, Strong was matched up one-on-one with the top receivers in the ACC, and Ingram has made some exceptional plays in his fourth NFL training camp.
Bills quarterback Mike White throws during the Return of the Blue and Red practice Friday at Highmark Stadium.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
5. Backup job The backup quarterback battle between Mike White and Mitch Trubisky is a dead heat. Both took snaps with the first-team offense Friday while Allen watched from the sideline. The Bills would save $1.5 million by cutting Trubisky, but White will need to show that he has command of the offense. White has appeared in only seven games since 2022, and he has seven career starts. Let’s see who Sean McDermott chooses to start against the Giants.
White had one of the best throws of practice Friday, lofting a pass over Christian Benford to connect with Coleman for a long gain.
6. Usage
James Cook wants the ball more often in 2025. The two-time Pro Bowl running back played 48% of the Bills’ offensive snaps last season. On third down, he had five rushes for 36 yards and four catches for 41 yards with one touchdown. Most of the third-down work went to Ty Johnson, who had seven catches for 105 yards and five touchdowns. Between Johnson’s role and Davis’ hard-nosed, between-the-tackle running, the group’s usage may look the same.“James Cook not playing on third down last year doesn’t have anything to do with his ability in the pass game or him not being able to handle the protection,” said Brady.
7. Rookie linemen
The Bills’ rookie defensive linemen have impressed early in camp, and they’re going to see extensive playing time in the preseason because McDermott needs the group to be ready to contribute in 2025, especially during Weeks 1 through 6 while Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi serve their suspensions.The coaching staff views second-round defensive tackle T.J. Sanders as a perfect complement to Ed Oliver and, though third-round defensive end Landon Jackson is lower on the depth chart, he has the traits, counter moves and experience to become a difference-maker.
Deone Walker is the wild card of the group. The 6-foot-7, 331-pound defensive tackle wrecked SEC game plans in 2023 before a back injury limited his impact last fall.
“Deone brings that size,” said defensive line coach Marcus West. “Not just size to be able to plug a hole, but he has dynamic athleticism at that size. His athleticism and the ability to be able to maintain that gap.”