Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott sent a loud message to the locker room after making Keon Coleman a healthy scratch for arriving late to a team meeting
17:26 ET, 16 Nov 2025Updated 17:26 ET, 16 Nov 2025
Sean McDermott walks off the field
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Sean McDermott benched wide receiver Keon Coleman for arriving late to a team meeting(Image: Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott wasted little time disciplining wide receiver Keon Coleman for tardiness.
Mere hours before kickoff in the Bills’ Week 11 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Coleman was surprisingly made a healthy scratch. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the benching was not performance related, but rather a punishment for not arriving on time to a team meeting on Friday.
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This is hardly the first time this season that Coleman has received a slap on the wrist from the Bills. In Week 5, he was held out for the first offensive series during Buffalo’s 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots for “discipline” issues.
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During his rookie campaign last season, Coleman was additionally benched for the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars for being late. Sunday’s contest, however, marked the first time he’s missed an entire game as a healthy scratch.
In Coleman’s absence, the Bills’ offense hardly slowed down as quarterback Josh Allen put together one of his best performances of the season.
When the dust had finally settled on Buffalo’s 44-32 win over the Buccaneers, the star signal-caller completed 19-of-30 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing six times for 40 yards and another three scores.
Speaking to reporters on the heels of the game, Coleman owned up to his mistake while voicing his desire to be better in the future.
Keon Coleman walks onto the field
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Keon Coleman was made a healthy scratch for the first time in his career(Image: Getty Images)
“Just gotta be better,” he said. “Mistakes happen, things happen, but again, gotta be better.”
As for how he can improve, Coleman explained: “Doing what I'm supposed to do. Doing the right things, being where I'm supposed to be.”
Coleman, to his credit, conceded that McDermott’s decision to bench him hardly came as a surprise. “I knew that. You can't make those type of mistakes when you're a professional,” he acknowledged.
“I wouldn't say it's difficult, it's disappointing. But, I mean, when you understand what resulted, like what happened to make that happen, then you get it. So you just got to be proud of your teammates and root for them.”
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At times this year, Coleman’s effort on the field — not just behind the scenes — has come under question. Over nine games, the 22-year-old has reeled in 32 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
When asked if he’s been pleased with Coleman's play earlier in the week, McDermott replied: "He knows if I'm not satisfied. ... Just like any player. It's fair that you're asking about it.
"I can promise you it gets addressed when it isn't where it needs to be. There are times like any player or any performer where it's exactly where it needs to, and there are times when it's not.
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“And then we have to address it to get it hopefully where it needs to be. So it's addressed. It's been good at times and other times it can improve for sure."