Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman remains on injured reserve with an abdomen injury and won’t play in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos. Hardman is not eligible to be designated to return from injured reserve until the team’s Week 15 game against the Houston Texans when four games have elapsed. At that point, the team can open his 21-day practice window and at any point during that window they can activate him to the 53-man roster.
While Hardman is not yet able to return to practice and play, he does seem to be making progress. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chiefs HC Andy Reid shared a positive update on Hardman’s status, suggesting that he could be ready to return from injured reserve at the earliest possible juncture.
“Yeah, you know what, he’s doing well,” Reid said of Hardman. “He had lost some weight (and) he put the weight back on, which is good. He’s out running now. He’s getting close.”
Soon 🫣 https://t.co/isCoLeQqGR
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) December 7, 2022
Asked whether he’d be able to return and play in Week 15, Reid didn’t rule out the possibility.
“There’s a chance, yeah,” Reid said. “There’s a chance. We’ll give him a couple of more days here and we’ll see, but he’s doing well.”
This is a very good sign given how cautious the team has been with players returning from reserve lists this season. The majority of those who have returned for Kansas City this season have taken the full 21-day practice window prior to their activation. If things continue going well for Hardman in his recovery, it seems like his return to practice and subsequent activation in Week 15 are a real possibility.
