Four wide receivers who could make first catch with Bills due to Keon Coleman injury

 

Four wide receivers who could make first catch with Bills due to Keon Coleman injury

Portrait of Ryan MillerRyan Miller

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

 

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman did not practice Wednesday and the team is unsure how long he’ll be out with a wrist injury.

 

“It could be more than just this week,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said.

 

Coleman suffered the injury on Buffalo’s game-winning drive over the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. Josh Allen targeted Coleman on a deep pass and he was hit by Miami safety Jordan Poyer, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play. Poyer’s helmet crashed into Coleman’s hands and facemask as the wide receiver tried to corral the ball.

 

Coleman was spotted wearing a brace on his right wrist after the game. He reportedly underwent an MRI on Monday. McDermott said Coleman is still being evaluated.

 

“I know he wants to be available,” McDermott said. “He’s a heck of a competitor but he’s not available today, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

 

Coleman is tied for first on the Bills with three touchdowns receptions and ranks second in receiving yards with 417. He leads Buffalo wide receivers with 387 snaps.

 

Buffalo has five wide receivers on the active roster. Four of Buffalo’s 17 practice squad players are wide receivers.

 

Amari Cooper returned to practice in a limited capacity as he works back from a wrist injury that sidelined him in Week 9. Cooper has played two games since being acquired by the Bills in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has five receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown with Buffalo.

 

Khalil Shakir is his dynamic and reliable self after working his way back from an ankle injury. He missed Week 5 and seemed slowed upon his return but Shakir has 22 receptions and 222 yards over the last three games. He leads the Bills in receptions (42) and receiving yards (471) and is the best in the NFL with 358 yards after catch.

 

Mack Hollins could see more targets if Coleman misses time. Hollins, a willing blocker, is tied with Coleman for the team lead with three touchdown catches despite having the fifth most receptions on the Bills.

 

Curtis Samuel has not delivered since signing a three-year, $24 million contract, with more than $15 million guaranteed, in the offseason. He’s yet to eclipse 100 receiving yards on the season.

 

The Bills could elevate a player from the practice squad until Coleman is healthy. A player can be elevated three times per season before they must be remain on the active roster.

 

Buffalo has used two elevations on Jalen Virgil and one on Tyrell Shavers.

 

Virgil made the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and his first career reception that year went for a 66-yard touchdown. He spent 2023 on injured reserve, was waived by Denver during final roster cuts in August and the Bills signed him to the practice squad the next day. Buffalo elevated Virgil each of the last two games.

 

Shavers, an undrafted free agent in 2023, was on the Bills’ practice squad last year. The 6-foot-4, 211-pounder made a push at Buffalo’s 53-man roster this year but didn’t make the cut and was brought back to the practice squad for the second straight year. He played 16 offensive snaps against the Houston Texans in Week 5.

 

KJ Hamler had a productive rookie year after being taken in the second round, No. 46 overall, by the Denver Broncos in 2020. He had 30 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie campaign but has played 10 games since. Buffalo signed Hamler in January, he didn’t make the team as receiver or returner and was let go during on cutdown day, and signed to the practice squad the following day.

 

Deon Cain re-signed to the Bills practice squad on Oct. 31. The 2018 sixth round pick tore his ACL in his first preseason game with the Indianapolis Colts, which ended his rookie season. Cain has bounced around the league and was the USFL championship game MVP in July 2023 with three touchdowns to lead the Birmingham Stallions to a title. He originally signed with the Bills after Chase Claypool was released in training camp. Buffalo let Cain go on Aug. 27 and he joined the Carolina Panthers practice squad before being released Oct. 15. Cain won a College Football Playoff National Championship with Clemson in 2017.