Mecole Hardman

New York Jets
Wide Receiver #4
New York Jets
Wide Receiver #4
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Mecole Hardman News

Inactive Saturday

Hardman (pelvis) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Raiders.

Analysis: Hardman, who last suited up in Week 9, was listed as questionable by the Chiefs after practicing in a limited fashion Wednesday and Thursday and he'll sit this one out, with an eye toward returning to action in the playoffs. In his continued absence, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Ihmir Smith-Marsette will handle the Chiefs' Week 18 wideout duties.

Jan 7, 2023 12:17 PM EST


Questionable for Saturday's contest

Hardman (pelvis) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Raiders after practicing in a limited fashion Wednesday and Thursday.

Analysis: Hardman, who last suited up in Week 9, may end up being game-time decision for the contest, but Charles Goldman of the USA Today relays via coach Andy Reid that if the wideout is active for Saturday's 4:30 ET kickoff, his snaps could be limited. "I'd never put Mecole in a bad position," Reid noted. "It'll be very similar to what (Kadarius) Toney went through. If it's three snaps, it's three snaps. If it's five snaps it's five snaps. I know he's going to want to go. He loves to play. I'm going to be holding him back, I'm sure, if we get to that point."

Jan 5, 2023 1:05 PM EST



Limited practice Wednesday

Hardman (pelvis) was listed as limited at Wednesday's practice.

Analysis: Hardman was activated off IR by the Chiefs on Wednesday, but given that he was limited at practice by a listed pelvis issue, the wideout's status for Saturday's game against the Raiders is worth monitoring. Thursday's injury report will reveal whether Hardman approaches the contest with a Week 18 injury designation or cleared for his first game action since Week 9.

Jan 4, 2023 1:07 PM EST


Activated from IR

Hardman (abdomen) has been activated from IR ahead of Saturday's game against the Raiders.

Analysis: Hardman, who last suited up in Week 9, will bolster the Chiefs' pass-catching depth for the team's regular season finale and upcoming playoff run. It remains to be seen what the team's plans for Hardman will be in Week 18, but when healthy enough to log a full allotment of snaps, the 2019 second-rounder brings speed and experience to a wideout corps that also features JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney. Prior to missing time with an abdomen issue, Hardman caught 25 of his 34 targets for 297 yards and four TDs in eight games.

Jan 4, 2023 12:46 PM EST


Won't play after setback

Hardman (abdomen) won't play in Sunday's game against the Broncos, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Analysis: Coach Andy Reid revealed that Hardman suffered a setback Wednesday, which explains his subsequent absence from practice. Hardman will have one more chance to return from injured reserve before the end of the regular season when the Chiefs face the Raiders in Week 18. He must be activated from injured reserve by next Wednesday in order to play again this season, so Kansas City will likely do so with an eye on having Hardman in the postseason, regardless of his Week 18 availability.

Dec 30, 2022 11:03 AM EST



Not seen at practice Thursday

Hardman (abdomen) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Analysis: After being designated for return from injured reserve Dec. 14, Hardman has been practicing for the past two-plus weeks, with head coach Andy Reid suggesting Wednesday that the receiver would likely be activated ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos. Hardman's absence from practice suddenly makes his availability for Sunday less of a sure bet, though he could put to rest some of the concern about his status by getting back on the field Friday in some capacity. Since the Chiefs have a full 21-day window to evaluate Hardman before he would need to be added back to the 53-man roster, the team can wait until next week to activate him if there's any concern he won't be ready to play against Denver.

Dec 29, 2022 11:48 AM EST


Trending toward Week 17 return

Hardman (abdomen) will practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: When asked whether the wideout, who last suited up in Week 9, might come off IR ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, coach Andy Reid noted "I'd presume he'll be [in] there." Assuming Hardman is available this weekend, he'll have a chance to reclaim a key role in a Kansas City WR corps that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.

Dec 28, 2022 10:30 AM EST


Looking unlikely to play Week 16

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid suggested Thursday that Hardman (abdomen) isn't on track to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Saturday's game against the Seahawks, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports. "I'm not sure he's where he need to be," Reid said.

Analysis: Reid's comments are an about-face from just two days earlier, when he told Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com that Hardman had a "good chance" of suiting up this weekend. The coach's change in tune isn't necessarily an indication that Hardman has hit a snag in his recovery from the abdominal injury; it's possible the receiver may just need to get in more practice reps as he attempts to regain conditioning following a six-week layoff. Assuming Hardman remains out for Week 16, the Chiefs will likely turn to a combination of Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore to rotate in alongside starting wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Dec 22, 2022 1:33 PM EST


Has chance to return Saturday

Coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that Hardman (abdomen) has a "good chance" to play in Saturday's game versus the Seahawks, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Analysis: The Chiefs designated Hardman for return from injured reserve last Wednesday, but he was unable to do enough in practice to be activated ahead of Sunday's game in Houston. With another week of on-field work on tap, though, he seemingly is trending in a better direction. The team will need make the official activated from IR transaction by 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday for Hardman to be available Week 16.

Dec 20, 2022 10:38 AM EST


Won't play Week 15

The Chiefs didn't activate Hardman (abdomen) from injured reserve Saturday, meaning he won't be available for Sunday's game against the Texans, Charles Goldman of USA Today reports.

Analysis: Though the Chiefs opened Hardman's 21-day evaluation window by designating him for return from IR on Wednesday, the team evidently determined that the receiver needed more practice time before suiting up for the first time since Week 9. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Chiefs expect Hardman to make his return from an abdominal injury Week 16 versus the Seahawks.

Dec 18, 2022 5:22 AM EST


Likely out Week 15

Hardman (abdomen) is not expected to be activated off injured reserve before Sunday, but could return next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Kadarius Toney (hamstring) is expected to make his return after a three-game absence meaning the Chiefs should have a capable trio of wideouts ready for Sunday against the Texans regardless of the status of Hardman. The speedy receiver hasn't played since injuring his abdomen back in Week 9, but Schefter believes he could make his return in a critical matchup for both teams' playoff aspirations Week 16 against the Seahawks.

Dec 17, 2022 9:25 PM EST


Not expected to play

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that he's leaning against playing Hardman (abdomen) in Sunday's game against the Texans, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: Reid added that Hardman had a good week of practice after being designated to return from injured reserve. Given Reid's comments Friday, there's a decent chance Hardman has a lesser-than-usual role even if the team does activate him from IR before the deadline Saturday afternoon.

Dec 16, 2022 12:55 PM EST


Practicing Wednesday

Hardman (abdomen) practiced Wednesday, with coach Andy Reid saying the wide receiver will have a "ramp-up process" throughout the week, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Analysis: Hardman was designated to return from injured reserve, having missed the minimum four games and now back at practice to see if he's ready for Sunday against the Texans. If not, he could return Week 16 against Seattle or Week 17 against Denver. Prior to suffering the abdomen injury, Hardman was enjoying one of the better stretches of his career with 226 receiving yards, 35 rushing yards and five TDs in a four-game stretch Weeks 5-9. Given that he rebounded strong after a slow start to the season, Hardman should be right back in a top-three role once he's declared healthy, likely taking snaps away from Justin Watson and/or Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Dec 14, 2022 12:17 PM EST


Could return this week

Hardman (abdomen) is in line to be designated to return from IR by the Chiefs, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, in that context, Hardman could potentially be activated off IR in advance of Sunday's game against the Texans. If so, Hardman would bolster a Kansas City wideout corps that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, as well as Kadarius Toney (hamstring), who is a candidate to return to action in Week 15.

Dec 14, 2022 9:35 AM EST


Could be back Week 15

Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Hardman (abdomen) could return from injured reserve for the Chiefs' Week 15 game in Houston, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Analysis: Reid noted that Hardman has resumed running and is "doing well" in his recovery from the abdominal injury, leaving the Chiefs optimistic that the receiver might be ready to go when he's first eligible to come off IR in Week 15. Once Hardman is back in the mix, he may have to compete with Kadarius Toney (hamstring) for a regular spot alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in three-receiver sets. Toney has showed some intriguing playmaking skills in his first three games with the Chiefs, but the hamstring injury has kept him off the field for the past two contests and has perhaps stalled some of momentum he may have had in surpassing Hardman on the depth chart.

Dec 7, 2022 12:30 PM EST


Likely to return in 2022

Coach Andy Reid doesn't think Hardman's abdominal injury is season-ending and described it as short-term, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Analysis: Short-term is relative here, as Hardman has already been placed on injured reserve, but Reid seems optimistic that Hardman will be back after a minimum four-week IR stint. If Hardman returns at his first available opportunity, he would retake the field in Week 15 against Houston.

Nov 18, 2022 11:38 AM EST


Lands on IR

Hardman (abdomen) has been placed on IR by the Chiefs.

Analysis: With Hardman on IR and set to miss at least four games, as well as JuJu Smith-Schuster dealing with a concussion and iffy for Week 11 action, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are candidates to see added snaps Sunday night against the Chargers alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness). Hardman won't be eligible to return to game action before Kansas City's Week 15 contest against the Texans.

Nov 17, 2022 2:04 PM EST


Set to miss another practice

Hardman (abdomen) won't practice Thursday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Analysis: The same applies to JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion), with the two also having missed Wednesday's practice. If Hardman and/or Smith-Schuster are limited or out Sunday night against the Chargers, added Week 11 snaps would be available for Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness), who is line to return to practice Thursday.

Nov 17, 2022 10:11 AM EST


Remains sidelined

Hardman (abdomen) won't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: Nor will JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) or Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness), leaving Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore as the team's top healthy wideouts at this stage of the week. Hardman was inactive for this past Sunday's win over the Jaguars after missing practice Wednesday through Friday.

Nov 16, 2022 10:40 AM EST


Won't play Sunday

Hardman (abdomen) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: With Hardman -- who logged a 6/79/1 stat line on nine targets versus the Titans in Week 9 -- out, fellow WRs Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson are candidates to see added snaps Sunday behind JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Hardman will target a potential return to action in Week 11 against the Chargers.

Nov 11, 2022 12:28 PM EST


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