After the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs traded huge receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins earlier than the 2022 season, it was extensively thought that fourth-year wideout Mecole Hardman would lastly get his alternative to shine because the workforce’s prime receiving risk.
However issues didn’t work out that manner. After notching 5 begins within the first eight video games of the season — wherein quarterback Patrick Mahomes recorded a league-leading passer score of 139.0 when focusing on his speedy wideout — Hardman was positioned on the workforce’s Reserve/Injured checklist with a mysterious stomach damage. He lastly labored his manner again to play within the AFC Championship recreation (“When it comes all the way down to enjoying, he’s a tricky, robust child,” stated head coach Andy Reid afterward). However in that contest, he suffered one other stomach damage that stored him out of the workforce’s Tremendous Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
By this time, most Kansas Metropolis followers had just about given up on Hardman. (In a postseason ballot, simply 38% believed Hardman could be re-signed in 2023). And since he had undergone core muscle surgical procedure late in February, it wasn’t shocking that the workforce allowed him to stroll in free company. He signed a highly-incentivized one-year contract with the New York Jets price as much as $6.5 million — however in New York, Hardman was focused simply thrice in six video games. So, on the buying and selling deadline, the Jets traded him again to the wideout-hungry Chiefs.
After his return, Hardman did little to recommend the Chiefs had made the suitable transfer to deliver him again — however within the postseason, he returned to his environment friendly early 2022 type. Whereas he solely had 5 receptions, the final was a shot heard all over the world: the three-yard walk-off landing catch that handed the Chiefs their second-straight NFL championship.
“Pay attention, I’m not saying something in regards to the Jets, as a result of all people doesn’t match into each state of affairs,” stated Reid of Hardman’s return throughout his annual press look on the NFL Mix in Indianapolis on Tuesday. “That’s simply not the way it works on this league. We’d had Mecole. We form of knew how he suits in our scheme — and he did a pleasant job with that.
“He got here in, labored laborious and was productive for us. He had a few hiccups early, however he labored via these. We knew he would — and ended up having some nice performs within the Tremendous Bowl.”
And this time, a return to Kansas Metropolis is at the least a chance.
“If there’s a possibility there that is sensible for him — and us — I’m positive we wouldn’t be against happening that street,” normal supervisor Brett Veach advised reporters throughout his Tuesday look on the Mix. “Pay attention, when you may have a man that has performed on this offense and understands all of the verbiage, all of the dialogues, all of the play checks?
“We didn’t have numerous ammunition to do a lot on the commerce deadline final 12 months. That one simply form of opened itself up the place the worth wasn’t a lot. Our coaches knew him [and] he knew us — and it labored out.
“I imply, [I was] thrilled for him for that final play. I imply, what a flip of occasions for him! I like Mecole — and I’m positive we’ll keep in touch with him.”
