Mecole Hardman suffers shoulder injury after dynamic punt return for Chiefs in Week 9

Update: Hardman returned to field a punt in the second quarter after being designated as "questionable" following a shoulder injury.

The Kansas City Chiefs are already hurting at wide receiver with numerous injuries at the position, but the team took another tough hit early in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9.

Veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman went down in the first quarter against the Bucs on Monday Night Football after returning a nice punt from Trenton Gill that went 56 yards. Hardman came up huge on the return by bringing it 33 yards back but suffered an injury when he took a blow on the tackle by Bucs linebacker J.J. Russell.

It appears the injury to Hardman was to his right shoulder, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. He is now questionable to return, per the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are already missing several receivers and have tried to make moves to compensate in recent weeks. They lost Hollywood Brown to start the preseason for the entire year and then Rashee Rice was also lost for the year in Week 4. The Chiefs signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to start the year to help bolster the position, but even he has missed the last couple of games with a hamstring injury.

This past week, Skyy Moore was placed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury to further deplete the position. Even at other positions like tight end, the Chiefs are ailing as well after losing Jody Fortson and Jared Wiley to season-ending injuries.

Hardman is in his sixth season in the NFL, mostly with the Chiefs, after being drafted in the second round out of Georgia back in the 2019 NFL Draft. He re-signed with the team this offseason on a one-year deal and has six catches for 58 total yards so far this year on offense. He is, however, more valuable as a returner as well.