Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced on January 22 that the team will not activate wide receiver Mecole Hardman from injured reserve. That means Hardman’s season is officially over.
Hardman was placed on IR on December 7 after suffering a knee injury during practice in Week 14. Based on how quickly Hardman’s IR practice window was opened (January 1), there was hope he could return as early as Kansas City’s regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos. Instead, Hardman’s 21-day practice window came and went without the veteran’s activation.
In 12 regular season games played, Hardman registered 12 receptions on 14 targets for 90 yards. He also had 20 punt returns for 203 yards — a 10.2 yards per return average, according to Pro Football Reference.
Hardman, who signed a one-year, $1.12 million deal with the Chiefs in 2024, is a pending free agent.
X Users React to Mecole Hardman Injury Update
Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Reid announcing that Hardman will remain on IR.
“From making the game winning catch in the Super Bowl to not even being on the active roster at this point,” one person wrote. “The emergence of Nikko Remigio as KR/PR has kind of left Hardman as the odd man out. He was back practicing last week, feels almost like a healthy scratch here.”
“Not the news you want to hear heading into a physical matchup against the Bills,” another person wrote. “The path to the Superbowl isn’t going to be easy this year for the Chiefs.”
“Can’t remember a Super Bowl run without Mecole doing something. We will miss him,” another person wrote.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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