Bills coach McDermott said WR Coleman was inactive against Bucs for being late to a team meeting

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Keon Coleman is in the Bills' doghouse again.

The second-year wide receiver was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career after showing up late to a team meeting, coach Sean McDermott said after Buffalo’s 44-32 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

It’s the second time this season that McDermott has sent a message to Coleman, who was benched for the first series of a 23-20 loss to New England in Week 5, also after being late for a meeting.

“Yeah, it is disappointing, but I still believe in the young man,” McDermott said. “I believe he will learn from it. He takes it seriously and he will move forward in a way of growing from this and that’s the whole goal.”

The coach noted Coleman’s infraction came late in the week, meaning coordinator Joe Brady had to adjust his game plan.

“Just got to be better,” Coleman said after the game. “You can’t make those types of mistakes. You’re a professional.”

Coleman also faced discipline in Week 3 of his rookie season last year, when he watched the first quarter of a 47-10 win over Jacksonville from the sideline.

“Now he’s in the hot seat, and he needs to come on and show up for us,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “The past is over with, and it’s time for him to grow up. And he knows it.”

With Coleman sitting out, the Bills tried to spark an inconsistent passing game by elevating Gabe Davis from the practice squad and signing Mecole Hardman to the active roster. Buffalo also welcomed back receiver Joshua Palmer, who returned after missing three games with an ankle injury.

Against Tampa Bay, Josh Allen’s three touchdown passes each went for 25 yards or longer, and he finished with 317 yards passing while adding three TD runs.

Coleman was Buffalo’s top pick in the 2024 draft as the first selection of the second round. His play has been spotty this season.

Though he scored a touchdown in a 30-13 loss at Miami last weekend, he caught only three of eight passes thrown in his direction.

Since catching eight passes for 112 yards and a TD in a season-opening win over Baltimore, Coleman has combined for 24 catches for 218 yards and two scores.

McDermott addressed Coleman’s effort level on Monday, though he never indicated the receiver’s playing time was in jeopardy.

“There are times like any player where it needs to be, and there are times when it’s not,” McDermott said. “We have to address it to get it hopefully where it needs to be.”

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Nov 9, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta Hawks coach Quinn Snyder believes fifth-year forward Jalen Johnson is still a work in progress. If he’s right, it’s a terrifying prospect for opponents.

Johnson continued his emergence with his second triple-double in two nights Saturday, finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 131-116 win over the Washington Wizards.

It was his fourth of a season in which every one of those performances has been needed as the Hawks manage without four-time All-Star Trae Young, who has been out since late October with a sprained right MCL.

Johnson is averaging 23.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists, all significant improvements from a 2024-25 campaign that was easily his best.

“It’s reflective of a guy that’s done a lot of work that we need to make a lot of plays for us,” Snyder said of Johnson. “The triple-doubles, like the statistics, are great. But he wants to win and there’s more there. He can continue to become more efficient, because we need him to be that.”

Both Friday and Saturday’s performances were historic.

In Friday’s 134-133 home loss to Denver, he recorded the second-fastest triple-double in NBA history, reaching the threshold in only 16:44. (Denver’s Nikola Jokic holds the record of 14 minutes, 33 seconds.)

Saturday, he became only the second Hawks player ever with triple-doubles on both ends of a back-to-back, after Bob Sura did it on April 9 and 10, 2004.

“Yesterday was cool, but tonight was more important because we got the win,” Johnson said. “So I think that’s what makes it better. But it was just a great group effort and like I said before, it’s just a product of my teammates hitting shots and everybody making the game much easier for me.”

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Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) goes to the basket against Washington Wizards forwards Justin Champagnie (9) and Tristan Vukcevic (00) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) fouls Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)