Is Keon Coleman playing? Bills rookie held without a catch in first half vs. Jets

The Bills have leaned heavily on their running game at times this season, but many expected the absence of James Cook to impact their approach against the Jets on Monday.

After Buffalo nearly won in spite of Josh Allen completing nine passes against the Texans last week, Cook's injury would mean pressure would increase on pass-catchers Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman.

Kincaid and Shakir got involved before the end of the first half, as did Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel, but Coleman was curiously absent from the box score.

Here's what you need to know about Coleman's status for the Bills' prime-time showdown with the Jets.

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Is Keon Coleman playing tonight?

Coleman is healthy and active for the Bills, but he was held without a catch or target in the first half.

Allen completed just one pass on Buffalo's opening drive, so it was a slow start all around for Bills pass-catchers. That was by design, as OC Joe Brady recognized his rushing attack was shredding the Jets' defense and stuck with it despite Cook's absence.

Allen started to throw the ball more as the half went on, going into halftime with nine completions, but Coleman wasn't among them. The rookie was on the field for a healthy amount of snaps, but Allen just didn't look his way as much as the Pro Bowl quarterback usually does.

Coleman is a talented receiver in a Bills offense lacking a true No. 1 pass-catcher, but his usage has been inconsistent to this point in the season. He was targeted a combined two times in wins over the Dolphins and Jaguars before seeing an uptick in usage in losses to the Ravens and Texans.

Coleman caught only one of his five targets in last week's loss to the Texans, but that one reception was a 49-yard touchdown.

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Keon Coleman stats vs. Jets

Coleman did not record a catch in the first half on "Monday Night Football," threatening to make it his second game of the season without a catch.

The second-round rookie is averaging less than two catches per game, so his usage early on has been less than inspiring for fantasy owners, including those in DFS single-game contests hoping for a "boom" performance.

The Bills allowed a Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the first half on Monday, so fantasy owners will hope the smaller lead forces Buffalo to keep throwing the ball in the second half.