Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Quiet effort versus Raiders
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Hardman caught his only target for eight yards during Sunday's 27-20 win versus the Raiders.
Hardman finished the day fourth among wide receivers in snap share (29 percent), but that number could continue to shrink as veteran DeAndre Hopkins familiarizes himself with the Chiefs' playbook after the team acquired him last week. Hardman has posted no more than four catches for 33 yards in a game so far this season, and there's little reason to anticipate a significant uptick in production from him moving forward.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Targeted twice versus Niners
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Hardman logged one reception (on two targets) for 17 yards during Sunday's 28-18 win against the 49ers.
Hardman checked in fourth on the team in offensive snaps Sunday, but he saw a significant bump in his usage this week after JuJu Smith-Schuster left the game early due to a hamstring aggravation. The Chiefs continue to see wide receiver injuries pile up and could be a candidate to add an extra wideout prior to the NFL's Nov. 5 trade deadline. However, Hardman could claim added reps in the short term if Smith-Schuster misses additional time.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Makes most of limited snaps
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Hardman hauled in all four targets for 33 yards during Monday's 26-13 victory versus New Orleans.
Hardman managed to nab four passes on his four targets while tallying only eight offensive snaps on the night. While it's a positive sign that Hardman was targeted on half of the snaps he logged, it also doesn't leave much room for growth. That said, Hardman's play could earn him more run if he proves to be a reliable weapon for a Chiefs offense likely down its expected two starters in Rashee Rice (knee) and Hollywood Brown (shoulder) for the remainder of the regular season, at a minimum.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Ready to go for MNF
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Hardman (knee) is active for Monday's contest against the Saints.
Hardman will be able to go after popping up on the injury report Thursday with a knee issue. With Rashee Rice (knee) out for the foreseeable future, Hardman will look to carve out an offensive role for himself moving forward. To this point in the season, the wide receiver has yet to garner a target while playing 12 offensive snaps.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Questionable for Week 5
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Hardman (knee) was a full participant in Saturday's practice but is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Saints, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.
Hardman was listed as a DNP on Friday's injury report due to a knee injury, but his ability to practice without restriction Saturday indicates that he's on the probable side of playing Sunday. Hardman hasn't recorded a target through the first four games of the regular season and has been limited to kick and punt return duties.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Not practicing Friday
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Hardman (knee) won't practice Friday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Hardman was limited Thursday, so his non-participation a day later clouds his status for Monday night's game against the Saints. He hasn't been a factor in the offense to date, but if he's unavailable versus New Orleans, it would impact the Chiefs' Week 5 return game.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Pops up on injury report
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Hardman (knee) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Hardman will open the week on the team's injury report, but with the Chiefs not playing until Monday night against the Saints, he still has a few days to recuperate. If he's ultimately unable to play Skyy Moore and Xavier Worthy would be candidates to fill in as Kansas City's return men.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Works in return game Week 1
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Hardman returned one kickoff for 29 yards in the Chiefs' 27-20 win over the Ravens on Thursday night.
Hardman didn't play at all on offense, but he returned one kickoff and two punts (both fair catches). Barring injuries on the wide receiver depth chart, Hardman lacks a clear path to offensive playing time. He'll look to make a splash in the return game Week 2 versus the Bengals.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: One catch in preseason finale
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Hardman brought in his only target for six yards in the Chiefs' 34-21 preseason loss to the Bears on Thursday night.
The Super Bowl hero played a minor role in the exhibition finale, and it remains to be seen if there will be room for Hardman on the Chiefs' initial 53-man roster. Hardman could be no better than the No. 7 receiver on the depth chart as it currently stands, even when factoring in Marquise Brown's shoulder injury. Hardman also offers value as a returner, but there are other candidates with similar skill sets in Kansas City's deep wideout room.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Re-signs with Kansas City
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Hardman is re-signing with the Chiefs on a one-year contract, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Hardman left Kansas City for the Jets last offseason but then was traded back to the Chiefs in mid-October after failing to earn a major role in New York. He had a 52-yard reception and a game-ending touchdown in the Super Bowl against San Francisco, making the most of his 19 snaps on offense. Hardman figures to work as a depth receiver again in 2024, and he might also get a chance to returns punts and/or kicks.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Comes through with clutch touchdown
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Hardman recorded three receptions (on three targets) for 57 yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
Hardman was acquired by the Chiefs at the trade deadline but was sidelined by a thumb injury for most of the remaining games in the regular season. He also played a minimal role in the playoffs, including the AFC Championship Game, when he was on the field for only one offensive snap. However, Hardman came through on the biggest stage, catching a three-yard touchdown in overtime to deliver a walk-off Super Bowl win for the Chiefs. He also tallied a 52-yard catch early in the second quarter, accounting for the team's longest play from scrimmage. Hardman will hit free agency this offseason, and he'll likely find a short-term deal as a depth pass-catching option.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Activated from IR
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Hardman (thumb) has been activated off IR in advance of Sunday's game against the Bengals.
In conjunction with the transaction, the Chiefs removed Hardman's 'questionable' designation for the contest, which sets the stage for the wideout to see his first game action since Week 11. He'll give the team some added WR depth in Week 17, with Kadarius Toney out with a hip injury, but with eight catches on 10 targets for 41 yards in four games with Kansas City thus far, Hardman profiles as a fantasy dart in his looming return to action.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Won't be activated in Week 16
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Hardman (thumb) has been ruled out for Monday's game versus the Raiders.
Hardman has spent the requisite four games on injured reserve following surgery to repair his sprained right thumb back in late November. As such, the Chiefs opened his practice window Thursday, but he managed three straight limited sessions, which wasn't enough to be activated to the active roster. Hardman's next chance for game action is Sunday, Dec. 31 against the Bengals.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Limited participant in practice
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Hardman (thumb) was a limited participant in practice Thursday after being designated to return from injured reserve.
The wide receiver appears unlikely to play Monday against the Raiders, per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com. Hardman had surgery on his sprained thumb at the end of November and now has a 21-day window in which he can return to the team. The fifth-year pro has eight catches for 41 yards and no touchdowns since returning to the Chiefs in an October trade with the Jets.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Practice window opens
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Hardman (thumb) was designated to return from injured reserve Thursday, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Hardman underwent surgery to repair a sprained thumb at the end of November and will now return to practice with the team. He'll have a 21-day window to do so before he needs to be added back to the active roster, but he can return as soon as Monday against the Raiders. Getting the veteran receiver back in the fold should be a boost to the Chiefs receiving corps, especially with Skyy Moore (nee) now on IR.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Undergoes thumb surgery
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Hardman announced Monday that "surgery was successful" on his sprained right thumb.
Hardman emerged from Kansas City's Week 11 loss to the Eagles with the injury and landed on injured reserve. He'll miss at least four games, and his next chance to suit up will come Christmas Day against the Raiders. Hardman's recovery timeline is unknown however, so it's unclear if he'll be able to get healthy by then.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Lands on IR
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The Chiefs placed Hardman (thumb) on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hardman sprained his thumb in Monday's 21-17 loss to the Eagles. He wasn't able to log a practice session this week and will now be forced to miss at least the next four games while on IR. In his absence, Skyy Moore and Richie James are candidates to see action as the fourth wide receiver behind Justin Watson, Rashee Rice and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Sidelined by thumb sprain
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Hardman (thumb) won't play Sunday against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, Hardman is dealing with a sprained right thumb that may sideline him beyond this weekend. Since returning to the Chiefs in a trade with the Jets last month, Hardman has caught eight of his 10 targets for 41 yards, so his looming absence is of more import to his team's wideout depth than it is to fantasy managers.
Hardman (thumb) wasn't present for practice Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Hardman, who is dealing with a sprained thumb, also missed Wednesday's practice, so unless the wideout works fully Friday, he'll likely approach Sunday's game against the Raiders with an injury designation. In four games with the Chiefs since coming over in a trade with the Jets last month, Hardman has caught eight of his 10 targets for 41 yards, a pace that keeps him off the fantasy radar in all but the deepest of formats.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Sits out practice with thumb sprain
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Hardman won't practice Wednesday due to a sprained thumb, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Hardman reeled in both of his targets and gained 12 yards in Monday's 21-17 loss to the Eagles, but he sustained the injury at some point along the way. The wideout will have two more opportunities to resume practicing in preparation for Sunday's game against the Raiders. Richie James (knee) is the top candidate to return punts and kickoffs if Hardman is unable to occupy that role this weekend.
