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Bills Facing Risky Keon Coleman Decision After Falcons Loss
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- Bills Facing Risky Keon Coleman Decision After Falcons Loss
You'll be forgiven if you didn't notice second-year receiver Keon Coleman during the Buffalo Bills ' Week 6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons . We also understand if you're strongly considering dropping him from your fantasy team.
In fact, we'd completely get it if the Bills are themselves wondering just what to do with Coleman, the No. 33 pick in last year's draft. Since catching eight balls for 112 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' thrilling Week 1 41-40 victory over the Ravens, Coleman has managed just 16 receptions, 125 yards, and a score.
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Those numbers might not sound terrible, and Coleman has averaged five targets per game in that time. However, Coleman had a key fumble in the Bills' Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots , and he's failed to make a significant difference the way Buffalo envisioned when it added him to a loaded offense.
It also hasn't helped matters that Buffalo benched Coleman for the first series of the New England game, the second time in two seasons he's been disciplined internally. Last year's brief benching came from arriving late to a meeting, though it remains unclear why coach Sean McDermott sat Coleman to start Week 5.
Coleman failed in an opportunity to put the past behind him on Monday night, tallying just three catches for a season-low 11 yards. Between the repeated off-field problems and a low statistical output, it's fair to start questioning just what, if anything, the Bills should do about Coleman.
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Should the Bills Give Up on Keon Coleman?
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman had a costly fumble in a Week 5 loss to the New England PatriotsTina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The notion that the Bills should trade Coleman after only 22 games, counting last year's playoff run, might sound absurd at first glance. With that said, anyone who watched the Patriots' and Chiefs ' respective dynasties understands that teams with legitimate championship expectations do whatever it takes to ensure they hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February.
There's no shame in the Bills contemplating that maybe, and unfortunately, the Coleman era in Buffalo won't work out. The Wellsville Sun recently noted that Coleman leaves the locker room before it opens to reporters, preventing them from speaking with the 22-year-old receiver.
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"Growth, maturation, that leads to consistency, more than anything," McDermott told reporters ahead of the Falcons game. "Like anything else, you have winning habits, it leads to winning on the field.
"So that's really what we're trying to create," McDermott continued, "and that's what we're here to do, is help young men, in this case, grow and mature and develop and become professionals. That's part of the process."
What should the Buffalo Bills do with receiver Keon Coleman?Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Whether or not the Bills believe that Coleman will take that next step remains to be seen, though the various and repeated red flags should have the organization worried about his long-term fit. Buffalo can't afford to have players they don't trust, not when they're in a championship window with the reigning MVP at quarterback.
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At some point, the reality of the situation has to set in. The Bills drafted Coleman, envisioning he'd quickly become one of Josh Allen 's favorite targets, yet he's instead quickly playing his way into a diminished role.
Coleman's talent, coupled with his playing on a rookie deal, likely wouldn't scare one of the other 31 teams away from acquiring him — and if he can't get back on track, then trading him sounds worth the risk.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
