Bills Central

'Soreness' not enough to stop Bills' top breakout candidate from facing Ravens

The Buffalo Bills' second-year wide receiver appears in the clear for Sunday Night Football after an injury issue re-emerged this week.
Aug 9, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs a pass route before a game against the New York Giants
Aug 9, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs a pass route before a game against the New York Giants | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

The excitement had been building all offseason around Buffalo Bills' wide receiver Keon Coleman.

By all accounts, from spring through summer, the 2024 second-round draft pick was taking all of the necessary measures to set up for a Year 2 breakout after slumping down the stretch as a rookie.

The optimism, however, was tempered a bit this week as Coleman unexpectedly landed on the injury report with a groin issue. With the September 7 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens looming, the second-year pro practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Friday, Bills' head coach Sean McDermott shed some light on the situation surrounding the wide receiver, who apparently experienced a similar groin soreness earlier in the summer.

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"Soreness, as a I recollect, back to training camp, and different phases of training camp," said McDermott. "It was more soreness then, and it seems to be just a little bit of a flare up right now, so we'll see where that goes today."

Keon Coleman TD
Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) makes a catch for a touchdown against New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt (55) and New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (4) | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

When Friday's injury report emerged, the doubt was lifted. Coleman was listed as a full participant for the first time this week and carried no designation ahead of the game. While addressing reporters in a post-practice media scrum in Orchard Park, he displayed no concern over his availability for Sunday Night Football.

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"Pretty much something I couldn't control, but just trying to stay on top of it with treatment and staying in the training room, so I feel my best to go out there and compete," said Coleman.

A follow-up posed the question of, "So, you're not worried at all about playing on Sunday?

Coleman shook his head, divulging an audible "nah."

The 6-foot-4 Coleman averaged 19.2 yards per reception in 2024. His production never recovered after a Week 9 wrist injury sidelined the rookie for four games

Keon Coleman ATC
Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs for a gain during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos in an AFC wild card game | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20+ years of media experience to Buffalo Bills ON SI. Prior to focusing on the Bills, he spent two years covering the New York Jets. Ventre initially joined the ON SI family in 2021, providing NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.