The leading conversation going into the Thursday Night Football game between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills is once again about Keon Coleman. The second-year wide receiver had shown up late to a team meeting before the Buccaneers game, which led to him being benched last week. Now, according to multiple reports, he will again be sitting out for the matchup against Houston.
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This has become somewhat of a troubling pattern. The Cover 1 report that stated Coleman was late last Friday marked at least the third time in his young career that he has been tardy or absent for mandatory meetings.
Sean McDermott made it clear earlier this week that Coleman has to earn back the “respect and trust” of the locker room, and Buffalo’s actions speak even louder than his words. With Mecole Hardman and Curtis Samuel out due to injury, and with the Bills already incredibly thin at receiver, scratching Coleman again underlines just how seriously they view the issue.
Cam Newton weighed in on the matter with a sharp message directed at Coleman. On his show, Newton emphasized that the excuses and understanding that come with being a rookie no longer apply in his case. “You’re not a rookie anymore, brother,” he said, stressing that the grace period is gone, and the responsibility now falls squarely on Coleman to act like a professional.
“We need you to… tighten up,” added Newton, pointing to the fact that Coleman had shown up late and put himself in the position to be held out of the game. “Showing up late and had to sit [out] for the game? No. No. Hell, no.”
Newton then reacted to the viral clip of Coleman dancing on the field before kickoff against the Bucs while benched. He wasn’t angry that Coleman wasn’t moping or sulking; he was frustrated with the optics.
“We ain’t pay you to be no doggone dancer,” Newton said, stopping the video to make the point that a player who is benched for disciplinary reasons shouldn’t be out there dancing.
Coleman did speak to reporters after the game and tried to convey that he is taking accountability. “Just got to be better. Better on my end… Mistakes happen. Things happen,” he said.
When asked if there was a message he still wasn’t receiving, Coleman dismissed the idea. “Nah, I wouldn’t say that.” The WR added that the situation was “disappointing,” but not difficult, adding that when you understand why a consequence happens, you “get it.”
But while Coleman downplayed the message, his teammates made it clear it’s time for him to take the next step. Dion Dawkins, the veteran left tackle, delivered one of the most honest assessments. He told Coleman directly, “Let’s just say that this is the last time and let’s move forward.”
Dawkins explained that Coleman knows he is in the hot seat and needs to show up for the team. “Pats on the back are over with,” he added, stressing that accountability matters and that the locker room shoots straight. Dawkins also revealed that Coleman took the words well, but now the team has to see whether he responds the right way.
Josh Allen was more diplomatic, saying he doesn’t make those decisions and would love to have Coleman on the field. But even Allen showed hesitation when asked directly about Coleman’s effort the previous week against Miami, the game where film surfaced of the WR jogging through routes in key situations.
The lack of separation and inconsistency at receiver has already contributed to Allen taking six more sacks than his total tally from last season. The quarterback doesn’t need a perfect receiver; he needs one he can trust. Coleman hasn’t given him that.
