The Colts turned to a familiar speed threat on Tuesday as their receiver room continued to thin out. Indianapolis signed veteran wideout Mecole Hardman Jr. to the practice squad, a move that comes after injuries have mounted across the position group.
Alec Pierce, Josh Down, Ashton Dulin and Keenan Allen have all been limited in recent weeks, with Pierce sidelined since Week 2 because of a lingering heel injury. With the 2026 NFL regular season already well underway, the Colts needed another body at receiver and added one in Hardman.
The team announced the move along with another practice squad addition, bringing in punter Thomas Morstead, while releasing wide receiver Eli Pancol.
Hardman arrives with plenty of NFL experience and a résumé built around big-play juice. He played at Georgia from 2016-2018, where he established himself as a dynamic threat in the passing game and on returns before the Kansas City Chiefs made him a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
He made an immediate impact in Kansas City, earning Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a rookie for his return work. Hardman also played a major role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run that season, then helped them capture two more titles in 2022 and 2023. In the 2023 championship season, he caught the game-winning touchdown.
Hardman spent 2025 with the Buffalo Bills before being cut in August during preseason camp. Now, he’s set for his fourth NFL stop in eight years with Indianapolis.
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Georgia Suddenly Has A Real Fight To Keep Jayden Wade
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The question now is whether Michigan can convince Wade its path is worth a serious look, even with concerns about quarterback development lingering around the program. Bryce Underwoods benching has not gone unnoticed, and the Wolverines could also try to make the pitch more appealing with a major NIL package, though it is unclear whether that kind of offer will actually come together. [Read more 🡒]