Entering the 2025 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills were expecting to see a huge leap from second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman. He was expected to become the clear-cut No. 1 target for superstar quarterback Josh Allen.
Unfortunately, that expectation has not turned into a reality throughout the first 11 weeks of the campaign.
Not only has Coleman not produced up to expectation, he was a healthy inactive in Week 11. It is clear that the Bills are not happy with the young wideout and are trying to make a point to him early in his career.
While the benching was surprising last week, it sounds like Buffalo is primed to double down on its decision.
According to a report from Erik Turner of Cover 1, the Bills sound like they’re going to bench Coleman again in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans.
"From what I'm told, it will be the second game in a row that Keon Coleman will be inactive for the Bills," Turner reported. "It's gonna be (Joshua Palmer), Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis."
Of course, the original benching decision regarding Coleman came due to him being late to a team meeting for the second time this year. Sean McDermott did not hesitate to hand down punishment to the young wide receiver.
Now, Coleman is learning a lesson the extremely hard way. Missing back-to-back games with a healthy scratch is not a good look.
Throughout the course of the season thus far, Coleman has played in nine games. He has caught 32 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
Buffalo deciding to take such drastic action with the 22-year-old wideout is a surprise. However, it’s also a point about how no one on the roster will be allowed to pass on being a part of the culture the Bills are trying to build.
It will be interesting to see when Coleman is integrated back into the offense in Buffalo. Perhaps he’ll sit out one more game and be given another chance to prove that he belongs on the field. That is obviously the hope for Bills fans.
Expect to hear more news about Coleman in the near future. If Turner’s report is accurate, it doesn’t sound like Buffalo plans to play Coleman against the Texans.
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