Hardman indicated Thursday that he's ahead of schedule following surgery to repair a core muscle and hopes to be fully recovered by the time OTAs start in May, Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site reports.
Hardman, who signed a one-year contract with the Jets on Wednesday worth up to $6.5 million, is about a month removed from the procedure, and once the team retakes the field, the 2019 second-rounder will add speed to a wideout corps that for the time being also includes Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Allen Lazard and Denzel Mims. Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, in addition to bolstering his new team's pass-catching depth, Hardman -- who logged a 25-297-4 line on 34 targets in eight games with the Chiefs in 2022 -- noted that's he's open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and punts this coming season, an area of need for the Jets following the recent departure of Braxton Berrios.
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Jets' Mecole Hardman: Strikes one-year deal with Jets
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Hardman (groin) agreed Wednesday with the Jets on a one-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Hardman aggravated a lingering groin injury during the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game win over the Bengals and underwent surgery following the Super Bowl to correct the issue. It's unclear when he'll be back to 100 percent, but the Jets seem to be confident that he can regain his explosive playmaking ability in 2023. Hardman joins Allen Lazard as new members in New York's wideout corps, which also currently features Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Denzel Mims.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Undergoes groin surgery
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Hardman (groin) announced via his personal Twitter account that he underwent groin surgery in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Hardman returned from his lingering groin injury during the AFC Championship Game, but he subsequently aggravated the issue and was ultimately sidelined for Kansas City's win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. The looming free agent was limited to eight regular-season games with the Chiefs in 2022, in which he secured 25 of 34 targets for yards and four touchdowns. Hardman also had four carries for 31 yards and two scores and contributed in the return game.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Placed on injured reserve
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Kansas City placed Hardman (pelvis) on injured reserve Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Hardman had been sidelined since Week 9 due to the pelvic injury before he returned to action in the AFC Championship Game against the Bengals. However, he aggravated the issue in the second half of the contest and was considered doubtful for Super Bowl LVII after the first week of preparation. It's not surprising to see the speedy wideout ruled out for the final game of the season, but his move to IR opens up a roster spot for the Chiefs, who've filled the vacancy by activating Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) from IR.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Doubtful for Super Bowl
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Hardman (pelvis) is listed as doubtful after the first week of preparation ahead of Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Making his first appearance since Week 9 during this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals, Hardman aggravated his pelvic injury in the second half and now appears to be trending toward an absence from the upcoming Super Bowl, as coach Andy Reid intimated Thursday to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Still, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Thursday that the Chiefs are seeking additional opinions on Hardman to see if he may have a chance to suit up Feb. 12. Hardman's activity level next Wednesday through Friday likely will be the determining factor in that regard.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Getting opinions on injury
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The Chiefs are gathering opinions to determine if Hardman (pelvis) has a chance to play in Super Bowl LVII against the Bengals, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
What alternatively has been called an abdominal or pelvic issue actually is a core muscle injury, per Garafolo. The health concern contained Hardman to just one appearance since Week 9 in this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals, a contest in which he aggravated it. On Thursday, coach Andy Reid said "it'll be tough" for Hardman to be active for the Super Bowl, according to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Having said that, the door remains slightly ajar for Hardman to be a part of the Chiefs' offensive game plan Sunday, Feb. 12.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Trending toward missing Super Bowl
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Coach Andy Reid told Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com on Thursday that Hardman (pelvis) is unlikely to be available for Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles. "I think it'll be tough for him," Reid relayed.
Making his first appearance since Week 9 in this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals, Hardman managed to play 15 of 69 snaps on offense en route to two catches (on three targets) for 10 yards and two carries for seven yards. However, he aggravated his injured pelvis in the second half and was unable to return. Considering Reid's comments Thursday, Hardman seems to be the least likely of the Chiefs' banged-up wide receivers -- also, JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) -- to suit up Sunday, Feb. 12.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: No practice Wednesday
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Hardman (pelvis) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
All of Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) wouldn't have taken part in drills if the Chiefs had held a session Wednesday. However, the team has five more chances for all players to get in some on-field work ahead of the Feb. 12 Super Bowl LVII matchup with the Eagles after Hardman, Smith-Schuster and Toney made early exits from this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals. At the moment, Kansas City has just three healthy wide receivers (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore) on the active roster.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Aggravates pelvis injury
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Hardman (pelvis) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
Hardman stayed down after making an 11-yard catch in the third quarter. That play brought Hardman up to two catches for 10 yards on three targets plus seven yards on two rushing attempts. He was playing for the first time since Week 9 due to an injured pelvis, and the wide receiver appears to have aggravated that injury.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Returns to action Sunday
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Hardman (pelvis) is listed as active for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
In his first game action since Week 9, Hardman will add speed and experience to a Kansas City wideout corps that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Marcus Kemp. In that context, Hardman, who logged 25 catches on 34 targets for 297 yards and four touchdowns through eight games prior to being sidelined, profiles as a speculative fantasy option in his return to the Chiefs' pass-catching mix Sunday.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Listed as questionable for Sunday
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Hardman (pelvis) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals after practicing in a limited fashion this week, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Hardman, who last suited up for game action in Week 9, appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's 6:30 ET kickoff, and If he's available versus Cincinnati, the 2019 second-rounder would add valuable speed and depth to a wideout corps that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson (illness, questionable). Prior to being sidelined, Hardman had recorded 25 catches on 34 targets for 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Another limited practice
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Hardman (pelvis) remained limited at practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Coach Andy Reid told McMullen on Thursday that the team is "going to take it day-by-day" with Hardman as Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals approaches. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether the wideout heads into the weekend with an official injury designation or cleared to face Cincinnati.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Logs limited practice
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Hardman (pelvis) was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Hardman was unable to practice last week ahead of the Chiefs' divisional-round win over the Jaguars, but his ability to work Wednesday in any capacity has the wideout trending in the right direction in advance of Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals. If he's available this weekend, Hardman will add speed and experience to a Kansas City wideout corps that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Justin Watson.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: In line to practice
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Hardman (pelvis) will practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Head coach Andy Reid noted that Hardman, who last suited up Week 9, "feels better than he did the last couple weeks" and "seems to be in a good place" as Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals approaches. The Chiefs' upcoming injury report will clarify Hardman's official participation level in Wednesday's session, but the wideout appears to be trending in the right direction at this stage of the week.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Won't play Saturday
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Hardman (pelvis) has been ruled out for Saturday's playoff contest against the Jaguars.
Hardman was unable to practice this week, so he'll target a potential return to action a week from Sunday, should Kansas City advance to the AFC Championship Game with a win over Jacksonville. In his continued absence this weekend, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are candidates to handle added opportunities behind the team's top two wide receivers, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Still not practicing
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Hardman (pelvis) remained sidelined at practice Wednesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Hardman, who was also listed as a non-participant Tuesday, has one more chance to return to the practice field ahead of Saturday's divisional-round matchup with the Jaguars. If Hardman remains sidelined this weekend, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore would be in line for added opportunities between the Chiefs' top two wideouts, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Not practicing Tuesday
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Hardman (pelvis) won't practice Tuesday, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports. "It's not responding the way he wants it to," Kansas City coach Andy Reid said of Hardman's injury.
After suffering the abdominal injury coming out of Kansas City's Week 9 win over the Titans, Hardman was moved to injured reserve before being cleared Dec. 14 to rejoin the team for practice. He appeared to be making progress and was officially activated and added back to the 53-man roster Jan. 4, but he didn't play in the regular-season finale against the Raiders after experiencing a setback during practice. Despite Kansas City being on bye for the first round of the postseason, Hardman doesn't seem to have made much progress, and his absence from practice doesn't bode well for his chances of playing in Saturday's divisional-round game against the Jaguars. If the speedster remains sidelined, Kadarius Toney and Justin Watson would likely share duties as the No. 3 receiver in Kansas City's playoff opener.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Questionable for Saturday's contest
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Hardman (pelvis) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Raiders after practicing in a limited fashion Wednesday and Thursday.
Hardman, who last suited up Week 9, may end up being a game-time decision for the contest. If he's cleared to play, he'll likely be subject to a limited workload, according to Charles Goldman of USA Today. Head coach Andy Reid said after Thursday's practice that, if active, Hardman will be subject to a similar restriction with his snaps that Kadarius Toney previously faced in his return from a three-game absence due to injury Week 15, noting that he'll be "holding [Hardman] back, I'm sure, if we get to that point." Reid wasn't willing to put a number on Hardman's snap count, but if the speedster is active, he looks like he might be sharing the No. 3 receiver role with Toney and Justin Watson.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Limited practice Wednesday
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Hardman was listed as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a pelvis injury.
The Chiefs activated Hardman from injured reserve earlier Wednesday after he hadn't played since Week 9 due to abdominal soreness, but given that he's still not practicing fully due to what's a related pelvis injury, the wideout's status for Saturday's game against the Raiders remains uncertain. Thursday's injury report will reveal whether Hardman approaches the contest with an injury designation or if he's cleared to play.
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Chiefs' Mecole Hardman: Activated from IR
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The Chiefs activated Hardman (abdomen) from injured reserve Wednesday.
Hardman, who last suited up Week 9, will bolster the Chiefs' pass-catching depth for Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Raiders and the team's upcoming playoff run. The team has yet to reveal its plans for Hardman in Week 18, given that he was a limited participant at practice Wednesday. When healthy enough to log a full allotment of snaps, Harman 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 abdominal issue, Hardman caught 25 of his 34 targets for 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.
