The Buffalo Bills are getting a boost in the return game - and potentially in the receiver room - as they’ve activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. from Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 16 showdown with the Cleveland Browns.
Hardman, 27, hasn’t suited up since Week 11, when he made his Bills debut in that wild 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His first touch in a Buffalo uniform?
A 61-yard kickoff return that reminded everyone why he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie return specialist back in 2019. But that debut came with a price.
Hardman injured his calf while trying to field a punt later in the game - a play that ended in a fumble and landed him on IR.
Now, after a month on the shelf, he’s back. And while he may not be stepping into a major offensive role right away, his speed and return ability could be a valuable wrinkle for Buffalo down the stretch.
Hardman’s NFL journey has been anything but linear. Drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, he burst onto the scene with elite return numbers - averaging 26.1 yards per kickoff return and 9.3 yards per punt return in his rookie year.
That performance earned him both Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors. But as the Chiefs’ offense evolved and roles shifted, Hardman never quite carved out a consistent spot beyond special teams.
Over six seasons in Kansas City, he posted 178 catches for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had a brief stint with the New York Jets in 2023, though it was largely uneventful - just one catch for six yards in five games before he was traded back to the Chiefs.
This year marks his first NFL season without a game appearance for Kansas City - a sign of how much his career arc has shifted. But now in Buffalo, there’s a chance to write a new chapter.
To make room for Hardman’s return, the Bills placed rookie offensive tackle Chase Lundt on IR after he suffered a knee injury in practice this week. With Tylan Grable recently returning from IR and the team previously carrying 10 offensive linemen, Buffalo had some flexibility to make the roster move.
The Bills now have seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster: Hardman joins Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, and Tyrell Shavers. Typically, Buffalo has gone with five active receivers on game day, so someone will be the odd man out when inactives are announced at 11:30 a.m. EST on Sunday.
Hardman may not see a ton of snaps on offense right away, but his presence gives Buffalo another speed threat and a proven return man - something that could come in handy in a close playoff race where field position can swing games. Keep an eye on how the Bills deploy him - especially if they’re looking for a spark in the return game or a gadget-play wrinkle late in the season.