Buffalo native Joe Andreessen preparing to play first game for hometown Bills -

Raised in Erie County in the town of Depew, undrafted rookie linebacker Joe Andreessen will now be suiting up on Saturday for the team he grew up idolizing just 25 minutes away.

After attending Lancaster High School, Andreessen spent five years at Bryant University in Rhode Island. In his final year at Bryant (2022), he earned All-America honors after setting a school record with 116 tackles. He then transferred home to the University at Buffalo where he started all twelve games for the Bulls, leading the team in tackles (90) and tackles for loss (12). Andreessen’s success in the FBS, more specifically in the MAC, allowed him to sign with a pro team following the 2024 Draft.

Lancaster native and UB product Joe Andreessen is in line to play a preseason game for his childhood team in front of family and friends on Saturday: pic.twitter.com/YEg6sHe2cf
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) August 8, 2024

Signing with Buffalo was a no-brainer for the homegrown product. Right now, he is towards the bottom of the depth chart at linebacker for the Bills after they drafted a linebacker in the sixth round and spent the off-season adding veteran depth to the position.

Andreessen was able to get his first taste of a game-like NFL atmosphere last week during the annual Return of Blue & Red scrimmage which hosted north of 35,000 Bills fans.

“It was an experience running out of the tunnel and seeing all the fans,” Andreessen said following the scrimmage. “I hope it means a lot to everyone in Western New York… I know what it’s like to be those people in the stands so I think it’s a cool experience to be on the other side of it.”

Andreessen played in Highmark Stadium three times in high school before the Blue & Red scrimmage. So, this will be the fifth time for him playing there, but this one will be different. Even if it is just preseason, those previous experiences won’t live up to wearing a Bills gameday jersey for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Bills defensive backs Cam Lewis and J’Marcus Ingram also attended UB, but they didn’t grow up in the area. Hopefully, Andreessen will be able to see the field and make an impact for his hometown squad on Saturday. I’m sure he will have plenty of family and friends in attendance.