The Buffalo Bills had their highest single-game scoring output of the season in Week 11. The monster outing notably came without second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman, who was a healthy scratch for the contest.
Coleman wasn't in the lineup for Buffalo's 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being late to a team meeting entering the interconference clash. He was presumably set to take on a bigger role, too, with tight end Dalton Kincaid nursing a hamstring injury. Yet, you'd hardly notice the Bills' shortage of pass-catchers from looking at the box score.
It didn't seem like Buffalo missed Coleman much versus the Buccaneers, if at all. Frankly, there might not be a clearer indictment of his shortcomings since being taken No. 33 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Bills head coach Sean McDermott expressed belief in the 22-year-old following the victory against Tampa Bay.
Bills HC Sean McDermott goes to bat for Keon Coleman after surprise benching
"It is disappointing, but I still believe in the young man," McDermott told reporters regarding Coleman's benching (h/t Alex Brasky of Bills Digest). "We get to a certain point, and I have to do something ... I believe he will learn from it."
As the leader of the Bills' locker room, McDermott was left with no choice but to take action in response. Not punishing Coleman or giving him a special treat would’ve set a dangerous precedent. Nevertheless, the former’s confidence in the latter clearly hasn’t wavered.
While the optics of the current situation suggest otherwise, McDermott feels that Coleman is “[taking] it seriously.” Bills fans are (rightfully) skeptical of these comments, considering this is the young wideout’s third known disciplinary issue.
Yet, Buffalo's sideline general evidently disagrees and isn’t letting go of the rope quite yet. Coachspeak or not, no one is more equipped to speak on the matter than McDermott. He doesn’t just see Coleman come into work every day, regardless of tardiness; his view is the best in the house.
Hopefully, being made inactive serves as a much-needed wake-up for Coleman. He’s been put through the wringer amid a down season, including getting put on blast by retired NFL receiver Steve Smith Sr. Each instance is a valuable lesson that pedigree and talent will only get him so far sans a strong work ethic to match.