Bills Pre-Camp Position Preview: Linebackers - Projected Starters, One to Watch
As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the upcoming season, several roster hopefuls will use the coming weeks to make their respective cases to earn a spot on the 53-man final product.
With the Bills having concluded mandatory minicamp, all eyes will soon be on training camp for position battles and individual performances.
In that vein, here is our early positional preview at linebacker:
© Jamie Germano, Democrat & Chronicle
Current Depth:
Matt Milano, Deion Jones, Edufuan Ulofoshio, Terrel Bernard, Baylon Spector, Joe Andreessen, Nicholas Morrow, Dorian Williams, Shayne Simon
Projected Starters: Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Nicholas Morrow
Though Milano has not taken a competitive rep on a football field since suffering a season-ending fractured leg injury in Week 5 last year, he has been progressing toward a return to the field sooner than later. When healthy, Milano is among the top coverage linebackers in the conference. The first-team All-Pro had just 211 snaps before the injury ended his season. Still, the he logged two quarterback pressures, 23 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 11 stops. In coverage last season, Milano allowed 14 catches on 18 targets for 162 yards, 90 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 64.6.
In his first season as starter, Bernard played all 17 regular-season games in 2023 — leading the Bills in tackles while also becoming the first linebacker in the league since 1991 to put up at least six sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in the same season. Despite suffering an ankle injury in the Bills Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in January, he is expected to play a major role in the middle of Buffalo’s linebackers corps this season.
Having signed with the Bills in March as a free agent, Morrow is entering his seventh year in the NFL. Last season, he started 12 games as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, filling in for an injured Nakobe Dean — logging 95 tackles and three sacks. He also had a career-high 12 tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. With a strong amp showing, he is expected to be Buffalo’s opening day starter on the strong side.
One to Watch: Joe Andreessen
Andreessen spent his final collegiate year (also, his graduate season) playing for UB as one of the team’s top linebackers. He started in all 12 games, having logged 90 tackles (12 of which went for loss,) one sack, two passes-defensed and one forced fumble. The 6-1, 232-pound linebacker showcased his versatility by aligning on multiple spots throughout his tenure. Andreessen took snaps along the defensive line and in the slot in addition to linebacker last season. He was also a mainstay on special teams, particularly on the Bulls’ punt coverage team.
Prior to his time at UB, Andreessen spent five seasons at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Under the tutelage of head coach Chris Merritt, he earned All-America honors for the Bulldogs after recording a school-record 116 tackles in 2022.
Best of the Rest: Baylon Spector
While the degree to which Spector’s leg injury will limit him heading into training camp remains unknown, Bills’ injury expert Dr. Kyle Trimble believes that the 25-year-old’s injury history makes this one’s worth watching.
Buffalo selected Spector in the seventh round (No. 231 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Clemson. However, various injuries have limited him to playing in only 15 of a possible 34 regular-season games since joining the Bills. During that span, he has logged 12 total tackles.
Bills’ fans remain hopeful that Spector may recapture some of the prowess he displayed during his time at Clemson. The 6-foot, 233-pound linebacker finished his college career with 210 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and a one interception in 53 games played with 21 starts.