Brady expects Coleman ready; Bills keep Benford and Davis questionable

Keon Coleman completed a limited practice Friday with his ankle injury, and Bills coach Joe Brady said he expects the receiver to be ready for Sunday's game against New England. Buffalo's final report leaves cornerback Christian Benford and running back Ray Davis questionable, while defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is doubtful.

The distinction matters for managers planning around Coleman. He missed Wednesday's session and returned to limited work Thursday, then completed another limited session Friday. Brady's Friday assessment moves the story beyond the earlier question of whether he could return to practice.

The Bills have not announced a target allocation or a snap guarantee for Coleman. His coach's confidence supports the availability expectation; it does not establish how Buffalo will divide the receiving work against the Patriots. Sunday's inactive list remains the last check before kickoff.

Benford has a different outlook. The cornerback missed practice throughout the week with a toe injury after leaving the Chargers game and not returning. Brady said Buffalo would take the decision up to game day. Questionable therefore remains the appropriate status, even after a week without practice.

Davis is also questionable with a hamstring injury. He was added to Thursday's report and listed as a full participant that day in the filed report, while Brady said Friday he had been limited over the past couple of days. Those descriptions should remain attributed rather than treated as a confirmed absence.

Sanders returned to practice Thursday after an appendectomy and was limited Thursday and Friday. The Bills now list him as doubtful. His return to the practice field has not cleared him for his first regular-season appearance of the year.

Buffalo's opponent will be missing two defenders: New England ruled cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore out with shoulder injuries. Their confirmed absences change the personnel available to the Patriots, without establishing a particular matchup or guaranteed production for Buffalo's receivers.

The Bills host New England on Sunday, October 4, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Coleman's completed limited sessions and Brady's confidence should replace the article's earlier Wednesday-only assessment when managers review their options.

Earlier reporting before the final Friday update

The final report above supersedes the availability questions in this earlier account.

Coleman's ankle issue carried over from the previous week. Sal Capaccio reported that Coleman and cornerback Christian Benford were absent from Wednesday's session; Benford has a toe injury after leaving the Chargers game. The Bills' official report confirms both non-participants. Coleman had played against Los Angeles after being listed as questionable for that game.

The receiving picture therefore remains open. Moore's limited work is different from Coleman's absence, but neither practice category guarantees that a player will be available Sunday. Thursday and Friday's reports will show whether either can increase his participation before Buffalo assigns game statuses.

On defense, the Bills also listed linebacker Joe Andreessen with a knee injury and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders with an illness as non-participants. Defensive tackle Deone Walker was limited with a quadriceps injury, and safety Damar Hamlin was limited with a rib injury. Those are Wednesday practice entries, rather than confirmed absences for the Patriots game.

RSO managers should replace the prior Week 3 questionable tags with the current practice information when planning their receiver options. Buffalo has not announced a replacement starter or a target allocation if either wideout cannot play. The team's final report and Sunday inactive list remain the checks for an actual lineup decision.