Kansas City Chiefs Activate Practice Window for Wide Receiver

The Kansas City Chiefs offense is about to get a little bit of help for the stretch run of the season. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports the team intends to begin wide receiver Mecole Hardman's 21-day practice window, clearing the way for his eventual return from injured reserve.

#Chiefs are activating the 21-day practice window for WR Mecole Hardman, per source. Hardman was on IR with an abdomen injury but is healthy enough to practice.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 14, 2022

Hardman has been out since the Chiefs' Week 9 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans with an abdomen injury. He had tallied 25 receptions for 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight appearances to that point in the season. He also added 31 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on four attempts.

Hardman's return should give the elite Chiefs offense yet another pass-catching threat as they prepare for the playoffs. The team ranks first in passing yards and second in scoring this year, and they still have a shot at the AFC's top seed if the Buffalo Bills lose a game. Hardman's 37.1 receiving yards per game rank fourth on the team.

Hardman initially joined the Chiefs as their 56th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. A speedy, explosive wide receiver out of Georgia, he appears to have hit his ceiling as a reliable and efficient complementary pass catcher. He appears unlikely to ever become the star the Chiefs were hoping for when they acquired him; he set a career-high last year with 40.8 receiving yards per game and is poised to his unrestricted free agency following this season.