2024 Buffalo Bills rookie report, Week 8: Coleman levels up, terrorizes an NFL defense

Keon Coleman’s rise commences; Buffalo Joe, and more rookie tidbits

The Buffalo Bills took a cross-country trip to face a fairly uncommon opponent in the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. Going into the week, the Seahawks had been a roller coaster type of team while in firm contention for the NFC West crown.

The Bills went into Seattle and handled the Seahawks with plenty of ease. It was a 31-10 game that saw quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the team pull their foot off the pedal moving into the fourth quarter.

A large collection of positive contributors now sees this team commanding the AFC East with a 6-2 overall record. The Bills had some new developments amongst their rookie class in the week heading into the game and, of course, in the game itself. Let’s talk about the Bills’ rookie class and how they performed against Seattle.

---

WR Keon Coleman

Coleman has had two outstanding concurrent weeks with his best overall performance in structure coming during Week 8 in multiple aspects of the game. Coleman won a fade ball for one of the best individual plays by a receiver for the Bills this season — in which he ripped the ball down with one arm, pinning the ball to his chest while being contested by the athletic and lengthy Tariq Woolen in coverage. Coleman shrugged him off and tapped his helmet after the play as a signal to Woolen that it was a good back and forth between the two quality young players.

Coleman was also able to bully the defender on a couple of press coverage reps that showed he’s capable of being a powerful alpha against smaller cornerbacks. He also was hit by Allen on a seam shot that Allen saw pre-snap and hit Coleman almost immediately for a chunk gain.

It was as good of a run blocking game as you will ever see from a receiver in a game — punking corners left and right with shoves to the ground and putting another into the bench, which wound up resulting in negating penalties on both parties.

You’re seeing a rookie progress here in substantial ways. It started as broken plays and some yards-after-catch skill. It’s now turning into his physicality really starting to blossom in multiple different factors, which will continue earning trust with offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Josh Allen. At this point, it’s absolutely clear that Allen loves him.

S Cole Bishop

No snaps once again for Bishop in this game. It’s been a theme this year when safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin are healthy. Rapp shows zero indication he’s giving up a starting spot this year when healthy. To this point, the Bills haven’t shown interest in replacing Damar Hamlin. Bishop continues to get plenty of opportunity on special teams and made a tackle doing so Sunday.

DT DeWayne Carter

Unfortunately for Carter, he was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) this past week with a wrist injury he’ll now have surgery on. He was playing better with more splash plays showing up on film. One of the four games he’s forced to miss has come and gone with Seattle. But we’ll see how long it will take for a return from the surgery.

RB Ray Davis

Davis is second in the Bills’ running back pecking order when it comes to snaps earned. But the clear number-one in the room is James Cook with Davis being an excellent option to spell him when needed — and when they need someone to get north-south in short areas. It’s clear that Davis is the future of this team at some point, but right now it’s Cook’s backfield and he’s playing fantastic football.

IOL Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

Van Pran-Granger got into the game once the starters were pulled for seven snaps. We don’t know how the reserve situation would work at this point if a starter went down because it hasn’t happened just yet, but Van Pran-Granger may be the primary backup at center if it was needed. Again, it’s hard to know how the rotation would play out with an interior injury at this point.

LB Edefuan Ulofoshio

Ulofoshio was not active for this game against the Seahawks and hasn’t been active in any games this season.

EDGE Javon Solomon

The opportunity for snaps on defense continues to be minimal, but Solomon had a sack on one of his four total snaps. It was the only sack for the team as he quickly got to Geno Smith by being pin-balled by a couple of Seahawks and just playing with great effort and motor.

Solomon has made his opportunities worth it when he’s gotten them, but those may soon dissipate with Von Miller’s pending return. One of Casey Toohill or Solomon may see snaps disappear entirely.

OL Tylan Grable

Grable remains on IR with a groin/core injury. He’s already missed four games so he’s eligible to return whenever he’s healed up. There have been no updates on a possible return at this time.

CB/Returner Daequan Hardy

One of the Bills’ seventh-round picks remains on the practice squad and has not been elevated this year.

OL Travis Clayton

Clayton is on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury and the International Pathway draft selection will not play in 2024.

LB Joe Andreessen

Andreessen was active against the Seahawks with linebacker Terrel Bernard out due to an ankle injury. He had a big hit on kickoff coverage in the second half and got a shoutout for the hit from Josh Allen during his on-field postgame interview. Andreessen has been active whenever Bernard has been down this season.

CB/Returner Brandon Codrington

Early in the game, Codrington made a rough decision and fielded a punt on the Bills’ own goal line. The return got them out to the 12 but it would have likely been a touchback had he avoided fielding it. He’s been solid at finding some hidden yards in the return game, but he made a bad choice fielding that punt on Sunday. Luckily, it wasn’t costly.