Veteran huge receiver Mecole Hardman continues to battle to dwell as much as his second-round draft standing with the Chiefs. His sixth NFL season seems to be coming to an early finish as Kansas Metropolis locations him on injured reserve with a knee challenge that surfaced this week.
Since making the Professional Bowl and incomes second-team All-Professional honors as a return man his rookie yr, Hardman’s position within the NFL has continued to evolve. Whereas he maintained his position within the return recreation, his targets as a receiver elevated through the years instantly following his rookie season. Whereas his yardage elevated, he by no means matched the six touchdowns he caught in his first yr. Within the final yr of his rookie deal, Hardman’s position gave the impression to be on an identical tempo till an harm noticed him miss the ultimate 9 video games of the season.
As a free agent, Hardman signed a deal to hitch the Jets, however his turbulent 5 video games in New York solely amounted to a few targets and one catch for six yards. He was traded again to the Chiefs, regardless of their lack of plans to re-sign him within the prior offseason, and spent the remainder of the season as a minor piece of the offense, lacking a five-game stretch with harm. This yr, Hardman’s position on the offense is just about nonexistent as he presently ranks tenth on the workforce in targets, however he has served because the Chiefs’ major punt returner whereas splitting kickoff return duties with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.
With Steele and Perine in a position to deal with kick return tasks in Hardman’s absence, the main target will probably be on filling his position as a punt returner. Hardman is the one participant on the workforce to return a punt this yr, however apply squad huge receiver Montrell Washington acquired some expertise within the position final yr.
It seems just like the Chiefs will favor a special possibility, although, as they moved to signal second-year undrafted receiver Nikko Remigio to the lively roster from the apply squad. As a graduate switch at Frenso State after 4 years with Cal, Remigio broke out with the Bulldogs recording 852 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on 74 catches. Maybe extra importantly, Remigio led the Mountain West convention with 259 yards and two touchdowns on 13 punt returns. He seems to have earned a chance to discipline punts in his NFL debut with Hardman out.
Becoming a member of Remigio off the apply squad will probably be linebacker Swayze Bozeman and tight finish Baylor Cupp. Their promotions are merely customary game-day apply squad elevations, so whereas Remigio will stay on the 53-man roster following the sport, Bozeman and Cupp will revert to the apply squad.
