Mecole Hardman can only hope for healthier days ahead after an injury-plagued contract year with the Chiefs.
Update: NFL reporter Tom Pelissero says the surgery was a success for Mecole Hardman.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman did his best to deal with, play through, and work his way back from a groin or pelvic injury for the entire second half of the team’s 2022 season. On Tuesday, he will undergo surgery to hopefully put the entire ordeal behind him as he focuses on getting healthy and facing free agency.
The Chiefs had high hopes for Hardman coming into the 2022 season since he was the most seasoned wide receiver remaining following the free agent departures of Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle as well as the trade of Tyreek Hill. In addition, as a contract year for Hardman, he had significant financial incentive to step up.
Unfortunately, Hardman had a hard year. A heel injury kept him from playing well in the first several games of the year. He was making up for lost time in October when he put together five touchdowns in three games and looked like he was turning into a red zone force for the Chiefs’ offense. Then came the groin injury.
Hardman would never play again in the regular season following the Chiefs’ win over the Titans in early November. From there, Hardman went on injured reserve and returned but still struggled with a re-aggravation of the same issue over time. He did play in the conference championship for a few snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals but that was it for the postseason and he was forced to miss Super Bowl LVII.
Earlier today, Hardman himself post a photo of his surgery-ready self, which implied what was going to happen but reporter Jeff Howe had official word that he would undergo groin surgery and would need eight weeks to recover.
Given that Hardman won’t be healthy for the start of free agency, it will be interesting to see what suitors are lining up just 1-2 weeks before the NFL Draft. Is it possible that Hardman is there waiting until after the draft to see what his market is? If so, that’s hardly what a player pictures when thinking about hitting the open market for the first time.