Veteran huge receiver Mecole Hardman continues to wrestle to reside as much as his second-round draft standing with the Chiefs. His sixth NFL season seems to be coming to an early finish as Kansas Metropolis places him on injured reserve with a knee situation that surfaced this week.
Since making the Professional Bowl and incomes second-team All-Professional honors as a return man his rookie 12 months, Hardman’s position within the NFL has continued to evolve. Whereas he maintained his position within the return sport, his targets as a receiver elevated through the years instantly following his rookie season. Whereas his yardage elevated, he by no means matched the six touchdowns he caught in his first 12 months. Within the final 12 months of his rookie deal, Hardman’s position appeared to be on the same tempo till an harm noticed him miss the ultimate 9 video games of the season.
As a free agent, Hardman signed a deal to hitch the Jets, however his turbulent 5 video games in New York solely amounted to 3 targets and one catch for six yards. He was traded back to the Chiefs, regardless of their lack of plans to re-sign him within the prior offseason, and spent the remainder of the season as a minor piece of the offense, missing a five-game stretch with harm. This 12 months, Hardman’s position on the offense is just about nonexistent as he at the moment ranks tenth on the crew in targets, however he has served because the Chiefs’ major punt returner whereas splitting kickoff return duties with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.
With Steele and Perine in a position to deal with kick return duties in Hardman’s absence, the main focus might be on filling his position as a punt returner. Hardman is the one participant on the crew to return a punt this 12 months, however observe squad huge receiver Montrell Washington acquired some expertise within the position final 12 months.
It appears to be like just like the Chiefs will favor a distinct choice, although, as they moved to signal second-year undrafted receiver Nikko Remigio to the energetic roster from the observe squad. As a graduate switch at Frenso State after 4 years with Cal, Remigio broke out with the Bulldogs recording 852 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on 74 catches. Maybe extra importantly, Remigio led the Mountain West convention with 259 yards and two touchdowns on 13 punt returns. He appears to be like to have earned a chance to subject punts in his NFL debut with Hardman out.
Becoming a member of Remigio off the observe squad might be linebacker Swayze Bozeman and tight finish Baylor Cupp. Their promotions are merely commonplace game-day observe squad elevations, so whereas Remigio will stay on the 53-man roster following the sport, Bozeman and Cupp will revert to the observe squad.
