Chiefs WR shares scary details of abdominal injury
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman shared details Thursday of his scary experience dealing with an abdominal injury during the 2022 season.
Hardman was re-acquired by the Chiefs in a trade with the New York Jets this week, less than seven months after signing with Gang Green.
The 25-year-old played four seasons in Kansas City from 2019-2022 to begin his career, suiting up in every game through his first three campaigns.
Hardman earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie, finishing third in the NFL that year in kick returns (27), kick return yards (704) and kick and punt return yards (871). Hardman finished the 2019 season with what is still a career-high 1,426 all-purpose yards.
The University of Georgia product has his best year as a receiver in 2021, posting career bests in targets (83), receptions (59) and receiving yards (693). Hardman was stuck in a crowded wide receivers' room this fall in New York that included Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb among others and registered just one catch for six yards on three targets, despite appearing in five games.
Hardman wasn't used as a kick or punt returner during his brief stay with the Jets.
Now back and healthy, he could provide a boost to a Chiefs wideouts group that has been quiet this season. Tight end Travis Kelce has again led Kansas City by a wide margin in targets (46), receptions (36) and receiving yards (346) in 2023, despite missing one game.
Hardman will join the likes of former New York Giant Kadarius Toney and rookie Rashee Rice in competing for targets behind Kelce.
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