Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Quintez Cephus

Wednesday, November 12, 12:34 PM

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday that he's excited about new practice-squad wide receiver Mecole Hardman, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. McDermott talked about Hardman's speed element and his positional versatility. The 27-year-old pass-catcher joined Buffalo's practice squad on Monday and could immediately join the team's 53-man active roster for a Week 11 meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday if top wideout Khalil Shakir (rib) is unable to play. Hardman was cut from the Green Bay Packers' practice squad in late September and hasn't played in a game this season. Last year, in 12 games with the Kansas City Chiefs, he caught 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards, adding five rushing attempts for 62 yards and a touchdown. Even if Shakir and Joshua Palmer (ankle, knee) are inactive in Week 11, Hardman will be a long shot for any kind of fantasy production if he makes his Bills debut.

Sunday, August 24, 8:45 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Quintez Cephus finished the preseason on a high note, catching four of his seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown against his former team, the Lions. Cephus' six-yard touchdown catch from Graham Mertz put the Texans ahead 16-7 just before halftime, and they went on to win 26-7. The Texans did not play starting quarterback C.J. Stroud or primary backup Davis Mills, but Cephus looked productive playing with rookie Graham Mertz. Cephus was a fifth-round pick of the Lions in 2020 and played three seasons in Detroit. He missed a season due to a suspension for violating the league's gambling policy and has since spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Texans. He doesn't look likely to end up on the Texans' final roster, but he probably showed enough to get a look from another NFL team or at least end up on a practice squad somewhere.