Veteran large receiver Mecole Hardman continues to wrestle to dwell 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 subject 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 over time 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 gave the impression 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 a few 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 nearly nonexistent as he at the moment ranks tenth on the staff in targets, however he has served because the Chiefs’ main punt returner whereas splitting kickoff return duties with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.
With Steele and Perine capable of deal with kick return tasks in Hardman’s absence, the main focus shall be on filling his position as a punt returner. Hardman is the one participant on the staff to return a punt this 12 months, however follow squad large receiver Montrell Washington bought some expertise within the position final 12 months.
It appears just like the Chiefs will favor a unique possibility, although, as they moved to signal second-year undrafted receiver Nikko Remigio to the energetic roster from the follow 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 have earned a chance to area punts in his NFL debut with Hardman out.
Becoming a member of Remigio off the follow squad shall be linebacker Swayze Bozeman and tight finish Baylor Cupp. Their promotions are merely customary game-day follow squad elevations, so whereas Remigio will stay on the 53-man roster following the sport, Bozeman and Cupp will revert to the follow squad.