In Week 2 of the NFL preseason, Joe Andreessen emerged as an unexpected standout. The Buffalo Bills linebacker tallied 12 total tackles and two tackles for loss during 44 snaps in the team’s 9-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Initially considered a long shot to secure a spot on the Bills’ final 53-man roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent this year, Andreessen has made a strong case for himself following an impressive training camp and several solid performances in the preseason. His underdog story is further enhanced by the fact that the 24-year-old linebacker hails from the Buffalo area. Bills quarterback Josh Allen mentioned that the team affectionately nicknames him “Buffalo Joe.”
Andreessen grew up in Depew, New York, a suburb of Buffalo located just a 25-minute drive from Highmark Stadium, home of the Bills, in Orchard Park. He attended Lancaster High School in the nearby village.
“Yeah, it’s definitely been quite an experience,” the linebacker remarked ahead of the team’s preseason game against the Chicago Bears. “The support from Buffalo and its fans has been incredible, but there’s still much to accomplish, and I’m focused on being the best version of myself every day.”
