Andy Reid Discusses Return of 'Fearless' WR Mecole Hardman After Trade with NY Jets

With Mecole Hardman back in KC, Andy Reid revisited Hardman's 2022 injury and his plan for Hardman on Sunday against the Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs reunited with wide receiver Mecole Hardman on Wednesday, executing a late-round 2025 pick-swap with the New York Jets, bringing a familiar face back to KC. Could Hardman play for the Chiefs after just two practices back with his former team?

On Friday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Hardman (and returning defensive end Charles Omenihu) "did a nice job" in practice this week. Will that allow them both to play on Sunday?

"We'll see," Reid said. "I'm thinking it's going in that direction."

Reid clarified that "that direction" — toward playing — was in regards to both Hardman and Omenihu. There's no reason for Omenihu to miss Sunday's game, as his six-game suspension followed a full offseason and preseason slate with the Chiefs and the team had been planning for his return this week since the news of his suspension. That seems to bode well for Hardman's chances as well.

However, the Chiefs still have options for their return game after returning Montrell Washington — the previous No. 12 who the Chiefs waived to add Hardman — to the practice squad. The team could elevate Washington on Sunday to continue to handle kick and punt return duties, or Hardman could make his '23 Chiefs debut on special teams.

Jan 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) greets fans prior to an AFC divisional round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

When Hardman spoke to the media for the first time as a member of the 2023 Chiefs, he detailed a harrowing experience from the 2022 season, explaining the extent of what was reported as an abdominal injury at the time.

"I was in the hospital for 10 days," Hardman said on Thursday. "I literally had no feeling in my leg for four days. I couldn't walk for four or five days. And then finally I got the feeling back in my legs on probably, like, the sixth day and walked the next couple of days, then finally got discharged from the hospital and went on the road to recovery."

He then returned for the AFC Championship game, which he said he was "65-70%" healthy for, before tearing his groin while making a catch. On Friday, Reid was asked about how he remembered that stretch of Hardman's season.

"He did a great job for us, in the championship game," Reid said. "[He] had one of the bigger plays there. Just for him to push through that, he’s not the biggest guy, but you see that when he carries the ball, he’s fearless out there, good or bad, he’s fearless that way. He’s a tough kid, and he did, he did push through that. [He] wanted to play, he was adamant about that. It ended up tearing on him there. He got it fixed, and he’s ripping and ready to go now."

Read More: KC Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman Gives Shocking Details Behind Serious 2022 Injury