Nicholas Morrow
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Nicholas Morrow celebrates a play in a Buffalo Bills game.
The Buffalo Bills are saying goodbye to a veteran linebacker who was pressed into starting duty last season and adding a promising player who missed the 2024 season with an injury.
The team announced on August 6 that they waived linebacker Baylon Spector with an injury designation, ending his three-year stint in Buffalo. Spector had been struck by injuries often during his time with the team, with the latest coming just days before his release.
Baylon Spector Went Down at Practice This Week
Spector was initially hurt at the team’s practice on Monday, with reporter Dan Fetes noting that he had to be helped off the field by a trainer.
“Baylon Spector came up limping after the last play. He’s now working into the tent with a trainer,” Fetes shared in a post on X.
Spector served as a reserve linebacker and special teams regular since joining the team in 2022. He appeared in 26 games over three seasons, making 1.5 sacks and 53 total tackles.
Though Spector provided depth on defense, he started four games last season when the team was hit with some injuries in the linebacking corps.
Even before this week’s injury, some insiders believed Spector would have a difficult time making the team. Reporter Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com predicted he would not make the final roster, noting that his history of injuries was a question mark for the team.
“This summer should likely end the Baylon Spector experiment. He has talent, but cannot stay healthy,” Talbot wrote.
The Bills filled some of the void left by Spector’s release, announcing on Wednesday that they signed linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo. The 6-foot-2 linebacker had spent time with the New York Jets last season but was hurt in the team’s first preseason game and missed the season. He was waived by the Jets earlier this offseason.
Spector’s injury could create an opening both on defense and special teams, giving a greater chance to some players on the fringes of the roster.
Another Linebacker Stepping Up
With Spector out, there could be a bigger opportunity for a rising star of the linebacking corps. Buffalo native Joe Andreessen was the surprise of the 2024 season, joining the team initially on a rookie minicamp tryout before eventually earning an invite back to training camp. He earned a spot on the active roster, playing mostly on special teams with some defensive work mixed in.
Talbot predicted that Andreessen could see an even bigger role in the coming season.
“Joe Andreessen’s strong spring answered a lot of questions about the depth of Buffalo’s linebackers,” Talbot wrote. “Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano provide Buffalo with an excellent 1-2 punch at linebacker, with Dorian Williams and Andreessen offering strong depth. Ulofoshio claims the final spot and takes on a big special teams role.”
ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg concurred, writing that Andreessen had the potential to be the biggest surprise for the team in the coming season.
“Largely a special teams player as a rookie last year, Andreessen was signed after trying out at rookie minicamp, and he then earned a roster spot. He made a significant statement going into his second season with his performance during the mandatory minicamp,” Getzenberg wrote.