Buffalo, NY — The Buffalo Bills will once again make Keon Coleman a healthy scratch heading into Thursday night’s showdown against the Houston Texans, marking the second straight week the young wide receiver is left out of the lineup. But while criticism around Coleman has grown louder, one teammate is stepping up publicly to defend him.
Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers — the breakout performer from last week’s win over Tampa Bay — is urging Bills fans to show patience and compassion toward Coleman, stressing that the 22-year-old is “human” and still learning. His message comes at an emotional moment for the league following the tragic suicide of Lions rookie Marshawn Kneeland, which Shavers referenced as a reminder of the importance of mental health.
Shavers explained on the Up & Adams podcast that Coleman has continued to support him behind the scenes, even as their roles shifted after Coleman was benched for arriving late to a team meeting.
“He’s not perfect. He is human at the end of the day,” Shavers said. “Everybody makes mistakes. He’s learning from them and he’s young. We gotta remember that — he’s young.”
Shavers then brought up the Kneeland tragedy as a warning against the kind of online hostility that Coleman has recently faced.
“Going back to the Marshawn Kneeland situation — mental health is real,” Shavers continued. “Everybody’s bashing him, talking about him. I’m not saying Keon is in a bad spot, but let’s remember he’s human. He will learn from these mistakes and he will bounce back.”
Coleman opened the season with an explosive 112-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Ravens but hasn’t topped 50 yards in a game since. Meanwhile, Shavers took advantage of Coleman’s absence, posting 90 yards and a spectacular 43-yard touchdown against the Buccaneers.
Still, Shavers insists Coleman’s story is far from over.
“That’s my brother,” he said. “And he’ll get through this.”
With Buffalo preparing for a crucial AFC matchup in Houston, the Bills will again rely on Khalil Shakir, Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Gabe Davis, and Joshua Palmer at wide receiver. But inside the locker room, Shavers’ message is clear:
Keon Coleman deserves grace, not condemnation — and he still has time to rewrite his season.
