Chiefs news: Mecole Hardman returns to the active roster

The Chiefs offense will have Mecole Hardman at the ready for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

The Kansas City Chiefs are hoping to get the team's offense back on track after a miserable stretch in the last several games that culminated in a complete meltdown in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. With only two games left, they need to learn quickly but they'll get some additional help with Mecole Hardman back on the active roster.

The Chiefs activated Hardman from injured reserve on Saturday just in time to play in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

Hardman, one of the most experienced wide receivers on the team, has been on injured reserve for the last few weeks with a thumb injury that's kept him unavailable for most of the time he's been on the roster this season. Remember the Chiefs reacquired Hardman in a midseason trade with the New York Jets in order to help bolster the position in the face of injuries.

Hardman spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs after being selected in the second round out of Georgia back in the 2019 NFL Draft. He left to sign with the Jets last offseason in free agency but ended up sitting out as a healthy scratch most weeks with New York.

With Hardman back, the Chiefs will be hoping that his presence can help inspire an offense that continues to struggle with turnovers, drops, and penalties among other concerns that has cost the Chiefs four of their last six games.

Hardman, who is still only 25 years old, has only 8 catches for 41 yards this year for the Chiefs. In his career, however, he's caught 159 passes for 2,129 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.