'Buffalo Joe': Local favorite LB Andreessen makes Bills 53-man roster
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Joe Andreessen, the Lancaster Legend who finished his college career with University at Buffalo, continued his hometown story by making the initial 53-man Bills roster on Tuesday, a league source confirmed to WIVB News 4.
Andreessen, who signed with the Bills in May following a rookie minicamp tryout, worked his way up the roster with a stellar preseason by taking advantage of ample field duty at linebacker with injuries to starter Matt Milano and backup Baylon Spector.
Becoming the first Western New York native to make Buffalo's 53-man roster since 2016, Corey Graham's third season with the team, Andreessen joins two other former UB football players on the Bills initial roster, defensive backs Cam Lewis and Ja'Marcus Ingram.
“What a story for Buffalo and all the young football players in Buffalo," Bills coach Sean McDermott said after Andreesen's breakout game at Pittsburgh in the second preseason week. "They get a chance to look to this young man who is playing for the Buffalo Bills, his hometown team. What an awesome story for you guys [and] for the community. He’s worked extremely hard. I mean I know how hard he works in the summer and what football means to him and just a phenomenal young man off the field. He’s done a tremendous job on the field.”
Starters Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams, along with rookie Edefuan Olofoshio and veteran Nicholas Morrow are the other linebackers on Buffalo's 53-man roster.
While whittling down the roster, the Bills traded for rookie kick returner Brandon Codrington, exchanging late picks in the 2026 draft with the Jets.
***
Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.