Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman has missed the last two games with a nagging injury. What happened to Coleman, and will he play tonight when the Bills host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football? Let’s examine the latest on the wide receiver’s status.
What Is Keon Coleman’s Injury?
Coleman injured his wrist near the end of Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, and he has not played since. In fact, he hadn’t even practiced until earlier this week, when he was finally able to take the field.
However, it’s worth noting that Coleman was limited in practice all week, and he is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the 49ers.
Is Coleman Playing in Week 13?
Coleman’s presence on the practice field is a step in the right direction, but he appears to be a true game-time call for Sunday night. Whether he plays likely comes down to how he feels during his pregame warmup.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has described Coleman’s wrist issue as a multi-week injury, and he recently said that the team is taking it one day at a time.
Be sure to monitor the Bills’ injury report as the game gets closer to see if Coleman is able to play or if he’s a last-minute scratch.
If Coleman Is Ruled Out, How Would His Absence Impact the Bills?
The Bills have won six straight games and still have Amari Cooper and Khalil Shakir at wide receiver, so they should be fine even if Coleman is sidelined.
Sure, it would be nice for Josh Allen to have all of his weapons (including Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid), but thanks to the Bills’ depth, this is a potent offense even without those two on the field.
From a fantasy standpoint, the idea of Coleman may be more valuable than the on-field product at this point. Even if he returns this week, what is the upside?
Coleman has earned more than five targets in just two games this season, and his role on the perimeter (just 5.2% of his routes have come in the slot) next to Cooper isn’t how I expect Buffalo to attack San Francisco in Week 13.
Through 12 weeks, the 49ers have surrendered just 6.1 yards per throw to the outside, the lowest rate in the NFL. Don’t drop Coleman just for the sake of doing it, but as long as Cooper is healthy, I don’t think the rookie is a must-roster player.