Bills HC Sean McDermott Breaks Silence on Decision To Bench Keon Coleman for Second Straight Game

Week 12 of the NFL kicked off with the Buffalo Bills versus the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. Ultimately, the Bills lost by a score of 23-19.

A storyline for this game was that sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman was once again a healthy scratch. Following a disciplinary decision that resulted in his inactivity last week, he was benched again for last night’s game. Head Coach Sean McDermott spoke on the decision after the game.

Sean McDermott Speaks on Benching Keon Coleman Again

In the post-game presser with the media, McDermott said the following: “We’re taking it one day at a time. Thought he had a better week and we’ll move forward one day at a time.”

When asked if this was an extension of last week’s decision, he said, “Well, listen, it was a short week, so we had basically two and a half days. You gotta game plan and all those types of things, but it wasn’t that it wasn’t thought about, it was just like anything else. We just felt like we went with the guys, like we always do, that give us the best chance.”

McDermott’s comments didn’t offer much detail, leaving fans and analysts to answer questions about what’s really happening behind the scenes in the Bills’ locker room. The situation has become puzzling, especially given that the team lacks depth in the wide receiver room and does not possess a dangerous threat at receiver.

The relationship with the Bills and Coleman has been quite tumultuous over the past couple of weeks. However, the Bills need wide receiver help, considering Josh Allen threw for 253 yards and two interceptions with no touchdowns last night. When will both sides resolve their differences and come to a common understanding?

This season, Coleman has caught 32 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. In PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact metrics, he ranks 55th with a grade of C- and an impact score of 72.2.

READ MORE: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings: Broncos, Bills, Rams Victorious in Key Matchups

Comparing his stats to his rookie season, Coleman caught 29 passes for 556 yards and four touchdowns. He’s still on pace to be more productive this season, but that depends on how many more games he’ll be benched for.

With the team fighting to stay competitive in the AFC playoff race, every personnel choice is under the watchful eye of the sports media. How the Bills handle the situation moving forward could have a meaningful impact on the remainder of their season. For both parties, it’s better that the situation be resolved sooner rather than later.