Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. had to exit Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after sustaining an apparent shoulder injury.
Hardman, 26, showcased an impressive 33-yard punt return in the first quarter before taking a hard hit on the sideline, which caused him to fall heavily on his right shoulder. The player, who scored the decisive touchdown in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory in February, was visibly in pain as he walked off the field with his arm limp and went directly to the locker room for evaluation. The team has listed him as questionable to return.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is already managing a depleted receiving corps. Marquise Brown is out for the season following shoulder surgery from a preseason injury, and Rashee Rice also underwent season-ending knee surgery. Additionally, JuJu Smith-Schuster was unavailable for Monday’s game due to a lingering hamstring injury.
To address their injury concerns, the Chiefs recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro, debuted last week and caught two passes for 29 yards in a win over Las Vegas. He had already contributed four receptions for 40 yards in the first quarter against the Buccaneers.
If Hardman is sidelined for an extended period, the Chiefs may look for further reinforcements before Tuesday’s trade deadline. The only other available wide receivers on Monday night were rookie Xavier Worthy, veteran Justin Watson, and practice squad call-up Justyn Ross.
The Chiefs were aiming for an eighth consecutive victory against the 4-4 Buccaneers. As has been a recurring sight this season, pop icon Taylor Swift was present at Arrowhead Stadium, showing her support for the team and her partner, Travis Kelce. She arrived in a stylish black, red, and gold leather Chiefs jacket, affirming her choice to attend the game over Kamala Harris’ election rally in Pennsylvania, which had sparked speculation about her plans.
