Andy Reid’s Worst Nightmare: Chiefs’ Star Player Ruled Out Ahead of AFC Championship Showdown, Leaving Coach with Impossible Choices
The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for their seventh straight AFC Championship Game on Sunday, where they’ll take on the Buffalo Bills for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
This matchup adds another chapter to Patrick Mahomes’ and Josh Allen’s growing rivalry. It will be their fourth playoff matchup since 2020.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they’ll be without wide receiver Mecole Hardman for the rest of the season. Hardman, who’s been out for over a month with a knee injury, had been hoping to make a comeback before the season ended.
The injury occurred during a Week 14 practice, and Hardman was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 7. While the Chiefs designated him to return on Jan. 1 — giving him a 21-day practice window — his recovery didn’t progress as hoped.
On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid confirmed the team would “probably put him back on IR,” effectively ending his season.
Hardman hasn’t made an impact on the offensive side of the ball this season with just 90 receiving yards. However, he’s remained a valuable weapon on special teams, logging 20 punt returns and averaging 10.2 yards per return.
The former Georgia Bulldog has spent nearly his entire six-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He briefly left the team last season, signing with the New York Jets as a free agent, but was traded back to Kansas City midway through last season.
Hardman scored only one touchdown after rejoining the Chiefs in 2023, but it was a memorable one. He caught the game-winning 3-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
