It's not the sort of list any player wants to be on, but like it or not, Mecole Hardman became the latest in a long line of Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers to be placed on injured reserve this season, Specifically, he became the fifth such player to hit IR.
On Saturday, the Chiefs placed Hardman on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury late in the week leading up to the team's scheduled game against the Los Angeles Chargers in primetime.
Hardman was placed on the team's injury list on Friday after sustaining the injury and was listed as "questionable" on the team's final injury report.
It's been a long year for the Chiefs wide receiver room when it comes to injuries
It's interesting that the Chiefs decided to place Hardman on IR instead of keeping him inactive. The move likely means a few things: 1.) Hardman's injury is worse than some might have thought and 2.) His roster spot is more valuable than just leaving him obviously injured at this point.
In the place of Hardman, who serves as an occasionally used offensive weapon alongside being the team's primary punt returner, the Chiefs make wide receiver Nikko Remigio the latest player to step up in someone's absence in the WR room. Remigio has been a preseason hero for the Chiefs who profiles in a similar role to Hardman.
Hardman is the latest wideout to go missing in action for the Chiefs while dealing with an injury. Hollywood Brown was lost for the season at the start of the team's preseason scheule, and Rashee Rice was declared out for the year himself after Week 3. JuJu Smith-Schuster missed a handful of games with a hamstring injury, while Skyy Moore landed on IR heading toward midseason.
In addition to the promotion of Remigio, the Chiefs also elevated tight end Baylor Cupp from the proctiiiii
Hardman is averaging 10.2 yards/return so far in 2024 for the Chiefs' special teams units while also offering up 12 catches for 90 yards as a receiver.