Keon Coleman’s underwhelming sophomore season continues to hit new lows.
The Bills’ second-year wideout is a healthy scratch for Sunday’s Week 11 home game against the Buccaneers after he missed a team meeting Friday morning, according to ESPN.
Despite a string of mediocre performances, the Bills (6-3) originally planned to play Coleman, 22, but shifted gears when he no-showed the meeting.
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The former second-round pick’s absence crosses another target off Josh Allen’s list, as tight end Dalton Kincaid is also sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The massive receiver shakeup was first reported by Cover 1 on Saturday night, then corroborated by NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, who noted the decision was not performance-based.
“I’m told it’s not performance-based — Coleman actually had a strong week of practice — but the team wants to see more from him in other areas,” Schultz posted to X Sunday morning.
Still, Coleman’s performance has done little to help his case, as he’s struggled to make the sophomore leap that the Bills were hoping for.
Through nine games, the Florida State product has hauled in 32 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns, continuing to slip as the season progresses.
After collecting 112 yards in Buffalo’s season opener, Coleman has failed to produce more than 50 yards in a game — and he has been held below 20 in two of his past four games.
In the team’s miserable Week 10 loss to the struggling Dolphins, Coleman corralled just 3-of-8 targets for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Coleman was actually benched earlier in the season as well, sidelined for the first series of Buffalo’s Week 5 loss to the Patriots — with head coach Sean McDermott citing disciplinary reasons.
“We expect more,” McDermott told reporters. “He has shown growth this year. [But] we’re looking for more consistency.”
In the thick of a playoff race, the Bills don’t have time to keep waiting around on Coleman.
Perhaps this will be the reality check he needs to help Buffalo down the stretch.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
