Although there aren’t many players left from his tenure as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, Sean McDermott, the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, has a way of bringing his old teammates back.
Shaq Griffin, a linebacker, is one of the few surviving former Panthers players who has joined Buffalo this season. But the former first-round pick’s enduring ties to McDermott might not be sufficient to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Shaq Griffin Predicted to Miss the Cut
According to Syracuse.com reporter Ryan Talbot, the Bills will continue to deploy the same linebacking corps as they did the previous season, starting Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano with depth provided by Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, and Edefuan Ulofoshio.
Talbot noted that Thompson is now on the outside of the roster bubble, having lost out mostly to the current wave of injuries that have prevented him from playing.
Despite his connections to Sean McDermott, Talbot stated, “I can’t justify a roster spot for Shaq Thompson at this time.” The veteran will need to maintain his health in order to have any chance of making the original 53-man roster, as he has missed the most of the previous two seasons. The Baylon Spector experiment should be completed this summer. Despite his talent, he is unable to maintain his health.
Over the past two seasons, Thompson has made 43 total tackles in just six games. In the past, he has been a successful linebacker, recording 100 tackles in four straight seasons between 2019 and 2022.
Bills Could Get ‘Surprise’ From Joe Andreessen
The 31-year-old Thompson might have trouble making the team, but the Bills might consider giving a second-year player who was one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 campaign a larger role. Initially a rookie minicamp trial, Andreessen finally earned a spot on the final 53-man roster and a contract to return for training camp.
Although he spent most of his time on special teams, Andreessen also saw action on defense, recording 26 total tackles in 13 games, including one start. The former University of Buffalo linebacker may have an even larger defensive role in the upcoming season, according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg.
After trying out during rookie minicamp, Andreessen, who was primarily a special teams player as a rookie the previous season, was signed and won a position on the roster. Getzenberg stated, “With his performance during the mandatory minicamp, he made a significant statement heading into his second season.”
Getzenberg pointed out that Andreessen might have an advantage in a unit that has been severely impacted by injuries if he can continue to be healthy and available. In addition to Thompson’s injury issues in recent seasons, veteran Matt Milano has also missed a lot of time due to a number of injuries.
Getzenberg writes, “The Bills place a strong emphasis on availability, and Andreessen saw more time during team drills, partly because of Baylon Spector’s injury.” He picked off Josh Allen, among other noteworthy plays. Additionally, he positioned himself well to contend for the position of backup middle linebacker.