ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills defensive back Cam Lewis has carved out a career in the NFL for six seasons that have been filled with ups and downs. 

“It’s a grind," he said. "Everybody’s not built for it. I feel like I was just built for this way."

Lewis has never been the biggest or the fastest — but he’s made his way by being smart and tough — critical in his role as a nickel cornerback and safety. 

“You’ve got to play bigger than what you are," he said. "Yeah, that’s that animal. You’re another linebacker."

After an injury to Taron Johnson early in the first game of the season — Lewis has been thrust into the starting lineup at nickel corner — still leaning on Johnson for advice — like he has throughout his career. 

“He’s that All-Pro caliber,” Lewis said. “I’d say he’s the best nickel in the league when he’s on the field so that’s what I’m trying to emulate.”

It’s a mindset he’s carried with him since long before the NFL was in reach. A native of Michigan, Lewis played his college ball at the University at Buffalo prior to joining the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2019. More than five years later, Lewis, 27, never could’ve fathomed spending a third of his life in Western New York. 

He’s been in Buffalo so long, some refer to him as the “local kid,” despite being from Detroit originally.

“We used to come up here and practice, especially spring ball, practice in this facility because we didn’t have an indoor [facility] yet [at UB],” he said. “So I never thought I’d be a Buffalo Bill playing here as long as I have.”

After bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and the main roster, he’s found a home in Buffalo, and a place for he and his wife to raise their two young children. Lewis signed a two-year contract extension earlier this year. 

"Family atmosphere here. Especially in this organization too and outside the building,” he said. “Man, my kids love it here. It just has that homey feel like you would want to raise your family here. It’s just all about the Bills. It’s all about the Bills, that football. My kids love football.”

Lewis is proud to have a shared experience with two other fellow former UB Bulls now with him on the Bills this season in DB Ja’Marcus Ingram and rookie LB Joe Andreessen, a native Western New Yorker.

“Joe, coming out of nowhere especially this year, preseason, coming in and playing his game, flying around," Lewis said. "You love to see it. Ja’Marcus, we kind of have the same story. Just starting on practice squad and working our way up. We knew that we could play at this level and just having the opportunity to go out there and show everybody else that we could do it as well, it’s just awesome to see."

He's proving that it’s not where you play, but how you play that makes the difference. That’s advice Lewis would give to his younger self when he first walked on campus at the UB as a teenager.

“Keep grinding. It’s not going to be pretty. Not going to like it at times, but it’s going to be worth it in the end. Just keep grinding,” he said.