The Bills announced on Friday that wide receiver Jalen Virgil will be promoted from the practice squad to their 53-man roster.
Virgil has been elevated to the game day roster twice this season and spent the first nine games on the Bills’ practice squad.
With WR Keon Coleman sidelined for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis due to a wrist injury and Amari Cooper listed as questionable (wrist), Virgil may have an opportunity to contribute.
Virgil played five seasons at Appalachian State, recording 98 receptions for 1,436 yards and 11 touchdowns, before joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Known for his speed, he was featured by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic as one of college football’s “Freaks.”
Since entering the NFL, Virgil has tallied five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old is from Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Against the Colts, rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman is sidelined due to a wrist injury, putting the Bills through a depth test.
Due to a wrist injury he suffered during the Buffalo Bills’ Week 9 victory over the Miami Dolphins, rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will not play in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Coleman had shown great promise this season, so the setback raises questions about the depth of the Bills’ receiving corps. McDermott is still hopeful that Coleman won’t have to be placed on injured reserve, which would necessitate a four-week absence. He thinks that Coleman might be able to return earlier than that if he has a bye in Week 12.
McDermott acknowledged that Coleman’s recuperation could take longer than a week, but he refrained from providing a precise return date, characterizing the injury as multi-week and unclear. The Bills may need to change their passing strategy in the upcoming games as a result of Coleman’s absence. According to McDermott’s remarks, they expect to have Coleman back in action shortly because of the crucial Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition to Coleman’s absence, Amari Cooper, a wide receiver, missed last week’s game due to a wrist injury. Cooper has described pain management as the main barrier to his return, thus it is unclear if he will participate on Sunday while he continues to rehabilitate. His condition will probably be decided on game day, which will complicate the lineup even more and force the Bills to think about other offensive tweaks if needed.
A number of injuries are plaguing the Bills’ receiving room, as Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel have both been sidelined in practice because of shoulder and pectoral problems, respectively. The team’s wide receiver depth is being put to the test as a result of this wave of injuries, and McDermott and his coaching staff will need to come up with a flexible game plan to make sure the offense can still be successful against the Colts even with a number of their key players not playing at their best.