Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman did not practice Wednesday and the team does not know how long he will be out with a wrist injury.
“It could be more than this week,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said.
Coleman was injured during Buffalo’s winning game against 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 attempted to recover the ball.
Coleman was seen 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 hell of a competitor but he’s not available today, and we’ll see where that takes us.”
Coleman is tied for first place on the Bills with three touchdown receptions and ranks second in receiving yards with 417. He leads Buffalo receivers with 387 snaps.
Buffalo has five wide receivers the active list. Four of the 17 players on Buffalo’s practice squad are wide receivers.
Amari Cooper returned to practice in limited capacity as he recovers from a wrist injury that sidelined him in Week 9. Cooper has played in two games since being acquired by the Bills in the part of 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 vibrant, reliable self after recovering 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 NFL’s best with 358 yards after catch.
Mack Hollins could see more targets if Coleman misses time. Hollins, a willing tackle, is tied with Coleman for the team lead with three touchdowns despite having the fifth-most receptions on the Bills.
Curtis Samuel hasn’t delivered since signing a three-year, $24 million contract, with more than $15 million guaranteed, during the offseason. He has yet to eclipse 100 receiving yards this season.
The Bills could elevate a practice squad player until Coleman is healthy. A player can be elevated three times per season before having to remain on the active roster.
Buffalo used two elevations on Jalen Virgil and one on Tyrell Razors.
Virgil joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and his first career reception that year came for a 66-yard touchdown. He spent 2023 on injured reserve, was waived by Denver during the last roster cut in August and the Bills signed him to the practice squad the next day. Buffalo has elevated Virgil in each of the last two games.
Shavers, a 2023 undrafted free agent, was on the Bills’ practice squad last year. The 6-foot-4, 211-pounder broke through to Buffalo’s 53-man roster this year, but failed to make the cut and was moved back to the practice squad for the second year in a row. He played 16 offensive snaps against the Houston Texans in Week 5.
KJ Hamler had a productive rookie year after being selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Denver Broncos in 2020. He had 30 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns during his rookie campaign, but played in 10 games Since. Buffalo signed Hamler in January, he did not make the team as a receiver or returner and was cut on cutdown day, and signed to the practice squad the next day.
Deon Cain re-signed to the Bills’ practice squad on October 31. The 2018 sixth-round pick tore his ACL in his first preseason game with the Indianapolis Colts, which ended his rookie season. Cain bounced around the league and was the USFL Championship Game MVP in July 2023 with three touchdowns to lead the Birmingham Stallions in one capacity. He originally signed with the Bills after Chase Claypool was released in training camp. Buffalo let Cain leave on August 27 and he joined the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad before being released on October 15. Cain won a College Football Playoff national championship with Clemson in 2017.
Free agent receivers include Claypool, Michael Thomas, Corey Davis, Randall Cobb, Richie James, Willie Snead and Isaiah McKenzie.
Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Amari Cooper
Statistics 2024: 8 games (6 with Cleveland); 29 receptions for 319 yards (11.0 average) and 3 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 148 games; 696 receptions for 9,805 yards (14.1 average) and 63 touchdowns; 14 carries for 41 yards (2.9 on average) and 0 touchdowns
Khalil Shakir
Statistics 2024: 8 games; 42 receptions for 471 yards (11.2 average) and 2 touchdowns; 2 carries for 4 yards (2.0 average) and 0 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 39 games; 91 receptions for 1,243 yards (13.7 average) and 5 touchdowns; 3 carries for 14 yards (4.7 on average) and 0 touchdowns
Mack Hollins
Statistics 2024: 9 games; 12 receptions for 111 yards (avg. 9.3) and 3 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 104 games; 143 receptions for 1,802 yards (12.6 average) and 13 touchdowns; 4 carries for 40 yards (average 10.0) and 0 touchdowns
Curtis Samuel
Statistics 2024: 8 games; 12 receptions for 92 yards (7.7 on average) and 0 touchdowns; 3 carries for 6 yards (2.0 average) and 0 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 99 games; 329 receptions for 3,475 yards (10.6 average) and 22 touchdowns; 124 carries for 721 yards (5.8 on average) and 7 touchdowns
Buffalo Bills practice squad wide receivers
Jalen Virgil
Statistics 2024: 2 games; 0 receptions
Career Statistics: 11 games; 2 receptions for 75 yards (37.5 avg.) and 1 touchdown
Tyrell Razors
Statistics 2024: 1 set; 0 receptions on 1 target
Career Statistics: 1 set; 0 receptions on 1 target
Deon Cain
Statistics 2024: None
Career Statistics: 13 games; 9 receptions for 124 yards (avg. 13.8) and 0 touchdowns
KJ Hamler
Statistics 2024: None
Career Statistics: 23 games; 42 receptions for 620 yards (14.8 on average) and 3 touchdowns; 11 carries for 63 yards (5.7 on average) and 0 touchdowns
This article originally appeared on the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills WR Depth Chart Following Keon Coleman Injury
