The Chiefs had a last-second surprise on the injury list this week in returner Mecole Hardman.
The Kansas City Chiefs had a last-second addition to the team's injury list headed into Week 14, a primetime game against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. After a week with fewer injuries than ever and a slate of healthy designations, the Chiefs added a wideout to the mix as "questionable" heading into the game.
Andy Reid announced that wide receiver and returner Mecole Hardman was questionable for the game after suffering a knee injury late in the week,.
Two important notes today:
— Hayley Lewis 👑 (@HayleyLewis_) December 6, 2024
Following practice #Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid shared WR Mecole Hardman sustained a knee injury before to the team's on field work. Reid said Hardman "might not be available" for Sunday night's game vs the Chargers.
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Hardman is the latest injury at a position that has felt cursed all season. The Chiefs already lost Rashee Rice for the season and Hollywood Brown for most of the year. Skyy Moore is also on injured reserve and JuJu Smith-Schuster missed a handful of games with a hamstring issue. Suffice it to say, the Chiefs have never been at full strength offensively.
Without Hardman, the Chiefs could turn to Xavier Worthy on punt returns and some rotation of running backs Samaje Perine and Carson Steele on kick returns. It's also possible that Dave Toub taps others for return duties if Chiefs coaches want to keep someone like Worthy fresh for the offense,.
Hardman is in his sixth season with the Chiefs after being selected by the team in the second round fo the 2019 NFL Draft out of Georgia.