Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Jacob Cowing

Tuesday, March 18, 9:06 PM

Free-agent wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman (knee) is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hardman will take his speed to the Packers while contributing both on offense and special teams as a kick returner. The 27-year-old former second-rounder (56th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of the University of Georgia caught only 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards and no touchdowns while carrying the ball five times for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 regular-season games before suffering a knee injury in December that landed him on Injured Reserve. The Packers could use the receiver depth with Christian Watson (knee) likely to miss around half of the 2025 season, but Hardman could struggle for consistent involvement in Green Bay's offense, much like he did in KC, behind Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs.

Tuesday, August 12, 8:32 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) returned to practice on Tuesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. Cowing, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of camp, did individual work and mixed in some team snaps in his first practice back. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder appeared in 15 games as a fourth-round rookie last year and caught a mere four passes for 80 yards. However, he garnered praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan during minicamp, and there was talk of Cowing helping to replace the departed Deebo Samuel Jr. in a gadget role. Now, there may be a path to more opportunities with the 49ers facing issues at the receiver position. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will miss the first several weeks of the regular season, Jordan Watkins (ankle) is out for a month, and Jauan Jennings (calf) is also banged up. Additionally, Demarcus Robinson is staring at a potential suspension from a 2024 misdemeanor DUI charge.