Sean McDermott shares strong yet encouraging message for Keon Coleman as the Bills evaluate his role after internal punishment
Sean McDermott spoke out about Keon Coleman’s benching.
One of the biggest talking points from the Buffalo Bills’ Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was wide receiver Keon Coleman. The second-year receiver faced disciplinary action for the second time this season, and the third in his career. It was reported and confirmed that Coleman would be a healthy scratch for Week 11 after missing a team meeting.
While Coleman was inactive, the team shined on offense, which has fans questioning Coleman’s role moving forward. In his absence, players like wide receiver Tyrell Shavers got a chance to perform and did incredibly well.
Head coach Sean McDermott spoke to the media on Monday about Coleman’s benching and his role. The Bills’ head coach left nothing to the imagination with his blunt message about the wide receiver. Ultimately, it’s up to Coleman to regain trust with his teammates.
“There are different paths or journeys,” McDermott said. “Do we want it to have happened before now? Yes. He would tell you the same thing. The important piece is that we and he learn from this, as I said [on Sunday], and he grows from this.”
Coleman will be given plenty of opportunities to succeed, but McDermott cautioned that these mistakes cannot happen going forward. The benching should be easy to move on from, as long as Coleman does his part from now on.
“You grow from it; we can move forward,” McDermott said. “You don’t grow from it; it’s hard to move forward. Ultimately, it becomes about developing trust and the trust that your teammates have in you. Trust builds through repetition and consistency. That’s the direction that we need him to go, and we believe he will go.”
Teammates speak out about Coleman’s benching
McDermott wasn’t the only one who was asked about Coleman’s benching. The reigning MVP, quarterback Josh Allen, also discussed postgame what the benching meant and what he told Coleman after the news broke. Allen is a leader in the locker room, and his words echo in the halls at One Bills Drive. Put plainly, Coleman just needs to be better.
“I don’t make those decisions. We would have loved to have him out there,” Allen said. “The way that rosters work is how it works sometimes.” That’s when Allen brought up his message to Coleman. “Just continue to keep working hard. Control what he can control.”
As Buffalo turns the page and focuses on Week 12, the expectation is clear. Coleman will get more chances, but the margin for error is small. Veteran players and coaches have shared the same message: the young wideout’s response will determine how quickly he returns to the team’s plans.
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