Bills Offer Confusing Update on Embattled WR Keon Coleman

By Jordan SiglerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

The 7-4 Buffalo Bills are looking to avenge a Week 12 loss to the Houston Texans on "Thursday Night Football" when they travel to play the 6-5 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

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The Bills offense looked out of sync against the Texans, scoring just 19 points in a four-point loss to Houston.

On Tuesday, Buffalo added some firepower for the offense when they signed veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks. In a corresponding move, the Bills released receiver Elijah Moore.

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Amid Cook's addition to the 53-man roster, the Bills have had a curious development in recent weeks with Keon Coleman. The second-year receiver was a healthy scratch in Buffalo's 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11.

The 2024 second-round pick was made inactive against the Texans.

On Wednesday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott explained why Coleman did not play against Houston. He suggested Coleman was not a "healthy scratch" but that the Bills didn't play him because of a "short run-up" to the game on a Thursday night after playing the Buccaneers on Sunday.

"Bills HC Sean McDermott clarified that WR Keon Coleman being a healthy scratch against the Texans was not discipline related, but due to a short run-up to the Thursday game," Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic posted on X. "McDermott said they are going to take things one day at a time with Coleman."

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It's unclear what McDermott meant about a "short run-up" being the issue. Coleman was not listed on the Bills injury report in Week 11 or Week 12. Typically, NFL teams might rest an injured player on a short week.

Coleman was reportedly healthy. He should have been able to get prepared for the Texans like any of the other healthy Bills players, even in a short week.

It's also uncertain what McDermott means by "one day at a time" in regards to Coleman's status with the team. It appears possible he will be a healthy scratch, or in McDermott’s eyes, a scratch, against the Steelers on Sunday.

Coleman has 32 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns this season.

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