Chiefs news: Mecole Hardman continues to sit out practice

Jan 23, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) dives for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde (23) during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) dives for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde (23) during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Chiefs don’t seem all that closer to getting WR Mecole Hardman back onto the field as the Divisional Round approaches.

Just a few weeks ago, it looked as if Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman was on the mend. Working his way back from an abdomen injury, Hardman came off of injured reserve so he could return to practice shortly as his team prepared to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18 to close out the regualr season.

Despite being back now for multiple weeks and even re-joining practice for stretches, Hardman continues to struggle with a return to form and so far this week, he has yet to be able to practice as the Chiefs prepare to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round.

The Chiefs offense has been fine without Hardman given the depth of targets at wide receiver and tight end, but that doesn’t mean Hardman is not missed. Remember, before he was injured back in Week 9, Hardman was on a productive run with the team and had 5 touchdowns in his final three games before hitting IR.

Hardman’s speed is always going to create mismatches with the right scheme, and his four years of experience makes him the most at home within Andy Reid’s offense. Instead, it’s hard to imagine Hardman making much of a difference at all at this point—at least through a conference championship. Remember Hardman still has to work his way back into game shape even after he’s feeling perfectly healthy to go all out again.

So far this season, Hardman has 25 catches for 297 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns for the Chiefs in 8 games.

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