Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott hinted this week that Keon Coleman was learning from his benching, which came after the wide receiver missed or arrived late to a team meeting for the second time this season.
But the team may not be ready to bring Coleman back onto the field just yet, a new report indicates.
The Bills had already benched Coleman for the opening series in last month’s loss to the New England Patriots, then for the entire game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the team had been tight-lipped about whether he would suit up on Thursday night against the Houston Texans, a report indicates that he will remain on the bench.
Bills Benching Keon Coleman Again
Reporter Erik Turner of Cover 1 reported that the Bills were benching Coleman again for Thursday’s game.
âFrom what Iâm told, it will be the second game in a row that Keon Coleman will be inactive for the Bills,â Turner reported on Wednesday. “Itâs gonna be (Joshua Palmer), Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis.â
Turner and Cover 1 were the first to report Coleman’s benching for the Buccaneers game, a decision that was made late in the week. Coleman reportedly missed a team meeting on Friday, leading the team to make him a healthy scratch for the win over the Buccaneers.
Coleman has shown flashes of strong play, but turned in a largely inconsistent season. After making eight receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens, he has made just 24 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the eight games since.
Keon Coleman’s Benching a Surprise Move
The decision to bench Coleman for a second straight week also comes as a surprise given recent injuries to the team’s wide receiving corps. Newcomer Mecole Hardman, who was just signed last week and immediately jumped into return duties and a place in the offense, was already ruled out for Thursday’s game.
Two other key targets — wide receiver Curtis Samuel and tight end Dalton Kincaid — have also been ruled out for the game, leaving the Bills even more shorthanded on offense. If Coleman is benched, they could turn to the practice squad if they want a sixth wide receiver.
There had also been indications that the team Coleman was making progress after the setback. While the Bills did not say how long Coleman would be relegated to the bench, McDermott hinted that he was growing from the mistake.
âI mean, right now, letâs call it a day and a half since game day. So, Iâm aware of how he handled it publicly, and I appreciate that and respect that,â McDermott said on Tuesday, via The Athletic. âAnd now itâs, again, one day at a time and earning the trust and respect of the teammates, and that takes time. But each day that goes by, you check them off as wins. The trust builds. So thatâs the important piece of it.â
The Bills have little margin for error if they want to win a sixth straight AFC East title. They are two wins behind the New England Patriots for the division lead, and the Patriots hold the tiebreaker after beating the Bills in October.
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