Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Hardman Unlikely for Week 16

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be without their full arsenal of pass catchers for at least another week. Speaking at a Thursday press conference, head coach Andy Reid expressed skepticism that wide receiver Mecole Hardman would be available for the team's Week 16 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he feels "pretty good" about TE Blake Bell (hip) making his return from IR to face the Seahawks.

Reid, though, didn't sound optimistic on WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen). "I'm not sure he's where he need to be," Reid said.
— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) December 22, 2022

Hardman has been unavailable since the Chiefs' Week 9 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans due to an abdomen injury. Week 16 will mark his seventh straight missed game. He has tallied 295 receiving yards and 31 rushing yards to go along with six total touchdowns in his eight appearances this season.

The Chiefs have survived Hardman's absence just fine over the past six weeks, going 6-1 and scoring 28.5 points per game. But they face a desperate Seattle Seahawks team fighting for its playoff life this week and could find themselves in a shootout. The Seahawks have scored the seventh-most points in the league and face a Chiefs defense that ranks 20th in points allowed.

Hardman joined the Chiefs as their 56th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has totalled 2088 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns over 57 appearances with the team. Despite explosive speed and significant pre-draft hype, he has plateaued as a solid role player in the Chiefs' system. He's set to his unrestricted free agency following this season.