Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) warms up against the Las Vegas Raiders prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman won’t be activated off IR, ending season

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, out with a knee injury since early December, will not be activated off injured reserve and is out for the season, coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday.

Hardman was put on IR on Dec. 7. The day before, he suffered the injury, apparently during work in an on-field practice.

The 26-year-old was eligible to return for the final week of the season against the Denver Broncos. He will not play Sunday when the Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

Hardman signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs in June, just months after he caught the game-winning touchdown in Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

A three-time Super Bowl champion, Hardman had 12 catches for 90 yards as well as five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown this season. He also returned 20 punts and five kickoffs.

Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets to start the 2023 season before being traded back to the Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; /Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Chiefs place WR Mecole Hardman (knee) on IR

The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver Mecole Hardman on injured reserve Saturday with a knee injury.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday that Hardman suffered the injury before the team’s on-field work when his “knee locked up on him.”

The earliest Hardman can return is Week 18 against the host Denver Broncos.

Hardman, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs in June, just months after he caught the game-winning touchdown in Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

A three-time Super Bowl champion, Hardman has 12 catches for 90 yards as well as five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown this season. He also has 20 punt returns and five kick returns.

Hardman has 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in 80 career games (28 starts) since being picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets to start the 2023 season before being traded back to the Chiefs.

In a corresponding move, the Chiefs signed receiver Nikko Remigio off the practice squad, where he has spent the entire season after not making the 53-man roster in training camp.

The Chiefs (11-1) are set for a divisional matchup Sunday night against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) returns a kick against the Los Angeles Chargers during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs activate WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) off IR

The Kansas City Chiefs activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman from injured reserve on Saturday in advance of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hardman’s questionable injury designation for Sunday’s game was removed, and he is expected to play for the first time since a 21-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11. Hardman has been out with a sprained thumb.

Hardman was traded back to the Chiefs from the New York Jets on Oct. 18 and has eight receptions for 41 yards in four games with Kansas City this season. In nine total games this season, Hardman has nine receptions for 47 yards.

A Pro Bowl selection for the Chiefs as a rookie in 2019, Hardman has 159 receptions for 2,129 yards and 16 touchdowns in 61 games (27 starts) over five seasons for Kansas City.

The Chiefs also activated running back Keaontay Ingram and nose tackle Mike Pennel from the practice squad. Kansas City also waived defensive tackle Matt Dickerson.

–Field Level Media

Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) warms up against the Cincinnati Bengals prior to the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Jets get WR Mecole Hardman on 1-year deal

The New York Jets are in agreement on a one-year deal with wide receiver Mecole Hardman, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

The deal is worth up to $6.5 million, per NFL Network.

The reports come one week after the Jets signed WR Allen Lazard to a four-year contract.

Hardman, 24, had a painful end to his four-year tenure in Kansas City. He missed the final two months of the 2022 season with what the team called a pelvic injury. He returned to play in the AFC Championship Game but re-aggravated the injury and exited the game. He missed the Super Bowl.

He underwent groin surgery last month in Philadelphia.

Hardman finished 2022 with 25 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns.

He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie return specialist with the Chiefs, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He has 151 career catches for 2,088 yards and 16 TDs while also rushing for two scores and returning one kickoff and one punt for touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Jan 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) greets fans prior to an AFC divisional round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman has groin surgery

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman underwent successfully surgery to repair his groin Tuesday, NFL Network reported.

Hardman posted a photo of himself earlier Tuesday, writing “Time for surgery.”

He had the surgery in Philadelphia, per the report.

Hardman, 24, missed the final two months of the regular season with the injury. He returned to play in the AFC Championship Game but re-aggravated the injury and exited the game. He missed the Super Bowl.

Hardman finished 2022 with 25 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns.

He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Chiefs, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He has 151 career catches for 2,088 yards and 16 TDs.

Hardman’s rookie contract is up, making him an impending free agent.

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) races past Tennessee Titans cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo.

Nfl Tennessee Titans At Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs rule out WR Mecole Hardman for Saturday

The Kansas City Chiefs ruled out wide receiver Mecole Hardman for Saturday’s playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a pelvis injury.

Hardman hadn’t practiced all week owing to the same ailment that caused him to miss extended time on injured reserve this season.

“So, really the only person that didn’t practice was Mecole,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thursday. “We backed off of him just to see if we couldn’t get him back going this week. He’ll most likely be listed as out going forward. It’s not for lack of effort, it’s not (anything else), it’s just the injury. So, he’s working through it.”

Hardman was injured Nov. 6 against the Tennessee Titans and has not played since, although the Chiefs designated him for return from IR on Jan. 4. In his eight games this season (five starts) he had 25 receptions for 297 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two rushing scores.

The other three players on the team’s injury report were all full participants in Thursday’s practice — DE Frank Clark (groin), WR Skyy Moore (hand) and CB L’Jarius Sneed (hip).

Of Clark, Reid said, “”I just talked to him, so I can tell you this hot off the press: He actually feels very good and he practiced well today, and really yesterday, too.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) races past Tennessee Titans cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the second quarter  at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman returns to practice

The Kansas City Chiefs designated wideout Mecole Hardman for return from injured reserve Wednesday, opening his 21-day practice window.

Hardman, 24, is on IR with an abdomen injury. The team will decide later this week whether to activate him for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Hardman has 25 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight games (five starts) this season.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that fellow WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) is day-to-day. Toney has missed the past three games, last playing Nov. 20 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter during the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Cincinnati Bengals At Kansas City Chiefs Jan 30 Afc Championship 289

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman, DT Chris Jones exit practice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman and defensive tackle Chris Jones exited practice early on Wednesday.

Per multiple media outlets, Hardman injured his left leg after landing awkwardly while attempting to catch a pass. He was examined in the medical tent before being carted off the field.

Jones exited practice on a cart prior to any team drills.

The severity of the injuries was not immediately known.

Hardman, 24, was expected to see an increase in targets after All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Miami Dolphins in the offseason.

He recorded 59 catches for 693 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season.

Hardman has 126 receptions for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns in 49 games since being selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Jones, 28, totaled nine sacks and 27 tackles in 14 games last season.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Jones has 49.5 sacks and 199 tackles in 90 career games (69 starts) since being selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media