What led to Keon Coleman being benched? A look at the issues with The Bills that resulted in him being a healthy scratch for Week 11.

Teddy Ricketson

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Why was Keon Coleman benched? A timeline of trouble with Bills leading to Week 11 healthy scratch image

TL;DR

  • Keon Coleman, drafted by Buffalo Bills, faces discipline for tardiness to team meetings.
  • Coleman was benched for parts of games in Week 3 and Week 5 for disciplinary reasons.
  • He was benched for the entire Week 11 game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers for lateness.
  • Coleman is expected to be a healthy scratch again for Week 12 against Houston Texans.

Wide receiver Keon Coleman was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Coleman instantly became a fan favorite with his opening interview, where he talked about bargain shopping and shared a deal he found.

Twelve months on, Coleman is finding it difficult to participate in games. The Bills decided he wouldn't play in their Week 11 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, listing him as a healthy inactive. This decision stemmed from his tardiness to a team meeting the day before the game, though head coach Sean McDermott informed reporters that Coleman needs to gain the trust and respect of his fellow players "one day at a time." 

Coleman, who had 556 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, now has a history of discipline from the team. Buffalo is expected to bench him as a healthy scratch again in Week 12 against the Houston Texans for "Thursday Night Football," and if they do, it would be the fourth time that the team has benched the wide receiver in less than two years. 

Here is more on Coleman's history of being benched in his short Buffalo tenure. 

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Keon Coleman's history of issues

Week 3 2024 vs. Jaguars

Coleman arrived tardy to a team huddle before a Week 3 matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. Consequently, he was sidelined for the initial portion of the game, sitting out two offensive series. 

Coleman didn't let that deter him, as he went on to score his first career touchdown against Jacksonville. 

Week 5, 2025 vs. Patriots

Coleman sat out the initial offensive series versus the Patriots. Though the exact reasons were not disclosed, head coach Sean McDermott labeled it "head coach discipline." 

McDermott added about how Coleman can improve, “Growth, maturation, that leads to consistency more than anything. And like anything else, if you have winning habits, it leads to winning on the field. And so that’s really what we’re trying to create. And that’s what we’re here to do, is help young men, in this case, grow and mature and develop and become professionals.”

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Week 11, 2025 vs. Buccaneers

Coleman's third team-related disciplinary action resulted in him being benched for a full game. Buffalo managed without him, as quarterback Josh Allen achieved six total touchdowns in their 44-32 victory against Tampa Bay, and veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis filled his role in the receiver lineup. 

Again, the reasoning for the absence was related to discipline, as Coleman was late to a team meeting on Friday before the game. Coleman addressed the situation, saying, "I mean, I knew that. "S---, you can't keep doing it. You can't make those types of mistakes. You're a professional."

McDermott also spoke discussed the decision to bench the wide receiver, explaining the reasons behind his full-game absence on this occasion. 

"It is disappointing [Coleman was in a situation to be disciplined again], but I still believe in the young man, and we get to a certain point and I've gotta do something. "I try and give the guys some -- a kind of a strike approach. Hey, you get a chance to show your teammates that's not really who you are. And then, when it happens again, then I step in. So, I believe he will learn from it. He takes it seriously, and he will move forward in a way of growing from this, and that's the whole goal."

Dion Dawkins, Coleman's teammate, also addressed the benching. He stated, “I've already spoken with him. I told him, 'Bro, look, don't even worry about it. Everyone experiences a unique path, correct? Let's just assume this is the final instance. Let's just proceed.' And he responded, 'I'm with you.' That's all that's necessary, isn't it? No one is flawless, but in this league, we require players to perform. Keon understands that he's currently in a difficult position and needs to step up for us. Encouragement is no longer sufficient; it's time for him to mature, and he's aware of this."

Week 12, 2025 vs. Texans

Inactives for "Thursday Night Football" against the Texans will be released around 6:45 p.m. ET, and Coleman is expected to be inactive once again. There haven't been reports that the wide receiver was late to anything again this week, and it could be stemming still from the Week 11 tardiness, or that Buffalo wants to roll with the wide receiver group it had a lot of success with in Week 11. 

According to one report, “The Bills are essentially dressing five wide receivers. It’s gonna be (Joshua Palmer), Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis."

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