Why Was Keon Coleman Benched by Bills? Sean McDermott Explains After Win vs. Bucs

The Buffalo Bills were without one of their top wide receivers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, and now we know why.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott explained after Buffalo's 44-32 win over Tampa Bay that it was a coach's decision to bench Coleman.

"It is disappointing, but I still believe in the young man. We get to a certain point, and I've got to do something. I try and give the guys a kind of a strike approach. 'Hey, you get a chance to show your teammates that's not really who you are.' When it happens again, then I step in," McDermott told reporters. "I believe he will learn from it. He takes it seriously. He will move forward in a way of growing from this, and that's the whole goal."

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported prior to Sunday's game that Coleman would not play because of "a coach's decision," putting more pressure on Mecole Hardman and Gabe Davis in the aerial attack.

"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 reported.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "This is at least the third known disciplinary issue" for Coleman.

He was benched for a drive against the New England Patriots earlier in the season and was also benched for the first quarter of a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.

This is Coleman's second season with the Bills after they selected him with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

He was solid as a rookie with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns and has followed with 32 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns through nine games this year. Only Khalil Shakir (457 receiving yards) has more yards through the air from Buffalo's wide receivers.

▶️ Full Bills-Dolphins Recap

04:46

That the team has played nine games and still doesn't have a wide receiver to reach the 500-yard mark underscores how much of a position of need it is for the AFC playoff contender.

The Bills were connected to the wide receiver market ahead of the NFL trade deadline with Dianna Russini of The Athletic reporting they reached out to the New Orleans Saints about a potential Chris Olave move. However, New Orleans decided to keep Olave despite trading Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks.

Buffalo also didn't add any notable pass-catchers ahead of the deadline, which put more of the onus on the group that is currently on the roster.

While Josh Allen and James Cook can keep the offense afloat, it is difficult to envision the team accomplishing its goal of a Super Bowl title without better production from the wide receiver spot. Coleman is one of the primary playmakers who would seemingly be part of that improved production if things went according to plan.

Yet he didn't even play in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, which could open the door for Hardman and Davis after recently adding them both to the active roster.