Biggest roster questions facing KC Chiefs at regular season’s end

Will Mecole return to form?

This season has resembled a sort of roller-coaster ride for Mecole Hardman. The primary question now is whether the ride will bring him back to a safe place to land or continue to carry him toward uncertainty.

Coming into the season, the path looked clear for Hardman to turn in a significant season for the Chiefs offense. Not only was Hardman coming into a contract year, but the Chiefs had also traded away Tyreek Hill, a player with a fairly similar skill set (albeit a supreme one). In an offseason in which the Chiefs decided to completely revamp the wide receiver room, Hardman was the holdover with the most knowledge and strongest chemistry with Patrick Mahomes.

It took a few weeks for him to get going thanks to an early season heel issue, but by Week 5, Hardman was starting to break out with greater production. From Week 6 to Week 9, a three-game stretch that included the team’s bye, Hardman had 5 touchdowns including two on the ground. He was electric in the red zone, and the Chiefs were learning to lean on him more as the weeks went on.

Then just like that,s. An abdomen issue has been responsible for keeping Hardman out since Week 9. Recently Hardman came off of IR to return to practice, but Hardman has yet to make his debut and the practice window for determining whether or not he’s ready is closing soon.

At this point, there are questions about whether he will return and, if so, how he will look? What was this abdomen issue and how serious was it? Will it. be something that lingers into the postseason? Is the present dragging of feet telling in terms of postseason expectations? It’s sad that Hardman doesn’t have a clear path to playing time and future impact because there’s a lot of money to be made next March. But Hardman is going to have to answer some of these issues.