Going into his third season, Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams has some lighthearted goals. He knows what he can do on the field, and while he’s looking to build upon that, he’s also looking at the bigger picture.
“Just to go out, have fun, compete,” Williams said. “I think the end of the day is all about winning. So that’s all I’m here to look forward to, is winning and trying to get us a ring.”
Williams held his own last season when he filled in for an injured Matt Milano.
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Linebacker Dorian Williams, shown during minicamp on Wednesday, led the Bills with 114 tackles last season. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
With Milano sidelined until Week 13, Williams stepped in as a starter. Even once Milano returned, Williams still got some play time when the team needed his physicality.
Williams finished the regular season with 114 total tackles, which led the Bills.
But now, Milano is entering this season healthy. The challenge this season for Williams is to stay ready.
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Bills coach Sean McDermott is looking for more out of the third-year linebacker.
“Continued improvement. We know who he is, and you talk about physicality – he’s as physical as there is on our football team,” McDermott said Tuesday. “He loves the noise. He loves contact. Now, it’s can he continue to grow in playing the position, right?”
McDermott has seen the game start to slow down for Williams.
“When you’re up close to the line of scrimmage, the game moves faster and faster because of the indicators, the triggers,” McDermott said. “So, the ability to process, you’ve got to be able to process quickly and add up one plus one. And, he’s really grown in that area, and I think he’s closing that gap every day.”
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa: 'No question' he will be ready for training camp
Injured Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa said his calf injury is progressing and he expects to be ready for the start of training camp.
Linebacker and team captain Terrel Bernard saw Williams take a step last season as the pair started eight games alongside each other. The game reps allowed Williams to build confidence, Bernard said, and now he’s carrying that into minicamp.
“Honestly, he’s made a ton of plays already, flying around,” Bernard said Wednesday. “You could tell that he came back, you know, really intentional with his body, with his studying and that type of thing.”
Fellow linebacker Joe Andreessen is close with Williams, and he’s seen a growth in maturity from Williams. Andreessen holds him in high esteem.
“I think if we didn’t have an All-Pro (Milano) on the team, you know, (Williams) probably starts for 31 other teams,” Andreessen said Tuesday. “That’s how good he is. I think you see the violence and the physical nature he brings to the game. And, I mean, he’s making plays every time he’s out there.”
Bills linebackers coach Al Holcomb has seen Williams make “tremendous, tremendous strides” as he enters Year 3. Part of that growth comes from Williams being on the same page as his coach when it comes to Holcomb’s style of instructing. The two were able to build that relationship more last season.
“I try to know what makes each and every player kind of tick a little bit,” Holcomb said Wednesday. “So, I think we have a good relationship.”
While Williams still may be working on his consistency, his physicality has never been in question.
“He’s fearless,” Holcomb said. “You know, when 42 is on the field, people are going to have to know where he is, and the type of energy and physicality that he brings. Doesn’t matter how big or small, I mean, he’s always going to bring it, and that’s the thing you love about him.
“Because he plays the game with a little bit of reckless abandon, but that’s his style of play, and it’s good for us.”
Williams thinks his skillset is complementary to the rest of the group. Even if he’s not starting, he can still raise the level of the linebacker room, as can each of his teammates. The job for coaches is to see how to use Williams and the rest of the group in different ways to maximize their differences.
“Everybody has a little bit different tool set,” Williams said. “And yeah, I think it’d be very scary to have all, three, four, five, how many linebackers we can have in there in one time? I think it’d be very scary for sure.”
Photos: Day 2 of Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) prepares to throw a pass during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (58) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams (42) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (44) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defensive back Tre'Davious White (27) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defensive back Maxwell Hairston (31) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams talks during a mandatory NFL football mini camp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
A Buffalo Bills football during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defender DaQuan Jones (92) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defender Michael Hoecht (55) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defender Joey Bosa (97) rehabs during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills punter Jake Camarda (32) punts during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (8) speaks to the media after a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills receiver Keon Coleman (0) speaks after a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defender Larry Ogunjobi (99) after a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebackers Edefuan Ulofoshio (48) and Terrel Bernard (8) a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills athletic trainer Nate Breske walks off the field with Maxwell Hairston after a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Sabres senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen talks with Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams during the Bills mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Kim Pegula looks on during the Buffalo Bills mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills receiver Curtis Samuel (1) runs after a catch during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills receiver Jalen Virgil (13) runs after a catch during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills receiver Elijah Moore (18) runs after a catch during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills quarterback Shane Buechele (6) throw a pass during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (44) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defensive line coach Marcus West works with Dorian Williams (42) on a drill during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills defender Damar Hamlin during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills running back Darrynton Evans (21) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills Mandatory Mini Camp
Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (20) during a mandatory NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
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