Hardman Makes Two Key Plays in First Game after Jets' Trade

After Gang Green experiment flames out, slot receiver returns to Super Bowl champs

Mecole Hardman made a triumphant return to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.

Only days after the New York Jets traded away the slot receiver in a deal that also featured a swap of 2025 late-round draft picks, Hardman helped his original NFL team seal a 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He made two notable plays, one on special teams and one as a receiver, during the fourth quarter.

Hardly used by the Jets after signing a one-year free-agent contract in March, the 25-year-old Hardman appears to already have a defined role with the Chiefs.

Back with the team that drafted him, Hardman's first contribution came as a punt returner. The 2019 second-round selection flipped the field on a 50-yard runback that set the Chiefs up at the Chargers' 35-yard line with 6:16 remaining in the game.

Holding a 24-17 advantage and looking to increase its cushion, Kansas City subsequently deployed Hardman on a 3rd-and-6 play from LA's 14-yard line. Hardman beat cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and made a leaping catch right at the first down marker. The Chiefs scored on the next snap, taking a two-touchdown lead with 3:35 left.

"You can feel the energy from that guy being in the room," said tight end Travis Kelce during a postgame interview with CBS's Tracy Wolfson. "I don’t know how he got out of New York, but I’m so glad that he’s with us. Obviously, he came up absolutely huge for us there in the fourth quarter. Not only just the punt return but a huge first down catch."

Hardman logged 11 offensive snaps and nine special teams plays in the Week 7 game at Arrowhead Stadium.

In six weeks with the Jets, Hardman totaled 28 offensive snaps. He made only one reception for six yards and was not deployed in the return game.

"I got a lot of respect for those coaches and the coaching staff. I don't think they did anything wrong, but things just didn't work out. They were supposed to work out, but now I'm here [back in Kansas City]," said Hardman earlier last week.

The Jets receiving corps suddenly looks thin. After Corey Davis stepped away from the game in August, and the Hardman experiment lasting only six games, Gang Green has only three battle-tested pass-catchers in the form of Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. The other three receivers on the 53-man roster — Xavier Gipson, Irvin Charles and Jason Brownlee — possess a combined eight games of NFL experience.

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