Dorian Williams Forces Bills to Elevate Undrafted Rookie AFC Special Teams Player of the Week as His Decline Continues

The Buffalo Bills entered the 2025 season expecting stability at linebacker. With Matt Milano fully healthy and Terrel Bernard holding down the middle, third year LB Dorian Williams was supposed to be the dependable rotational piece who had flashed major upside during his 117 tackle campaign in 2024. Instead, Williams’ unexpected regression has pushed Buffalo into a depth chart shakeup that few predicted this early in the year.

The coaching staff’s concerns became visible in Williams’ snap counts. Once projected to play a major role in passing downs, he has now fallen below 30 percent of defensive snaps in multiple games, including just 11 to 16 snaps in the Week 11 win over Kansas City. His coverage struggles have been glaring, with PFF grading him among the bottom linebackers in zone assignments. Missed gap fits, hesitation in space, and a missed tackle rate hovering near 20 percent have only deepened the issue.

While Williams has struggled, undrafted second year linebacker Joe Andreessen has surged. The hometown kid from Depew, New York earned his roster spot last year through a rookie minicamp tryout and has since become a core special teams presence. Over the past month, Andreessen’s consistency in run defense and disciplined assignment work have convinced the staff to give him more defensive opportunities. In several games, including Week 11, Andreessen out-snapped Williams in meaningful situations.

Head coach Sean McDermott did not shy away from acknowledging the shift when asked about Andreessen’s rise.
“Joe has earned every rep,” McDermott said. “He is where he needs to be, he tackles well, and he brings a level of energy and discipline we trust. When a young player shows he is ready for more, we always reward that.”
It was as much a compliment to Andreessen as it was a warning shot to Williams about accountability.

Williams himself addressed the situation publicly for the first time, speaking with a mixture of disappointment and resolve.
“I’m not running from what’s happened. I owe it to the Bills to be better. I owe it to myself. This team believed in me from Day 1, and I’m not letting one rough stretch define who I am or what I can become here.”
It was a statement that resonated inside the locker room, reflecting both humility and a commitment to regaining trust.

The Bills now face an unexpected long term decision at linebacker. Milano remains elite but has an extensive injury history. Bernard is approaching contract discussions. Andreessen is young, inexpensive, and rising. Meanwhile, Williams’ development curve, once trending upward, has flatlined at a moment when Buffalo needs defensive precision to survive the race for the AFC playoffs.

For now, Andreessen has earned his expanded role. Williams still has time to rebound, but every snap moving forward will matter. Buffalo has made the message unmistakably clear. Production earns opportunity. The depth chart is no longer based on draft status. Only performance.