KC Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman returns after missing OTAs with a hamstring injury
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman didn’t enjoy the best start of Tuesday’s on-field work, which marked the first day of a three-day mandatory minicamp.
The fourth-year pro dropped the first pass to come his way during team drills, and then he dropped the second one. The third time wasn’t the charm, either, as the pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes slipped through Hardman’s hands near the right sideline.
Hardman, who missed time during organized team activities because of a hamstring injury, expressed his frustration at the sideline by removing his helmet and throwing it to the ground.
All good, though, as Hardman let his competitive spirit show because he knew he could do better.
“It’s a pass I need to catch,” Hardman said. “I dropped two in a row — back-to-back — and it’s just not being out there for a minute, you kind of want to be perfect when you go back out there.
“It’s just kind of one of those things that you’re frustrated with yourself knowing I can do better, and I definitely can be better than that. I actually bounced back and caught everything else, so it was just one of those moments.”
Hardman’s rocky start to practice quickly became a memory, as he rebounded with a strong finish by hauling in catches whenever Mahomes threw his way during the almost two-hour practice.
Tuesday’s early dropped passes are certainly not the norm for Hardman, who posted a career-high 71.1 catch percentage in 2021 en route to also totaling career highs in a single season with catches (59), yards receiving (693) and targets (83).
And the Chiefs will depend on Hardman’s ability to pull in receptions this season because he’s in line for more looks with the departure of Tyreek Hill, whom the Chiefs traded to the Miami Dolphins during the offseason.
The spotlight is on, but Hardman embraces the extra attention.
“I don’t feel no pressure,” he said. “I just think it’s one of those things, it’s like a next-man-up mentality.
“As far as like pressure-wise, I really don’t feel it. I think it’s just me having to step up and be a better overall player than I’ve been the last three years. I don’t feel no pressure.”
Hardman won’t have to go at it alone among wide receiver corps, of course, as the Chiefs bolstered the group by signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster during free agency. The Chiefs then used a second-round pick on rookie Skyy Moore during the 2022 draft.
New faces galore, but Hardman believes the Chiefs will remain dangerous as one of the league’s top offenses even without Hill because of Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce leading the way.
“I think we’re going to be explosive,” Hardman said. “I think we’re going to be a great offense. We still have the best quarterback in the NFL, the best tight end in the NFL, so we’re going to lean on those guys, we’re going to depend on them, and we know they’re going to come to play every Sunday.
“With the new guys, I think they’re adjusting very well. They’re learning the plays, they’re learning the playbook, learning how we play here and the standard that we got here, so I think we’re going to be just fine.”
Meanwhile, Hardman and his teammates will have two more days of practice to continue working together.
And after putting in a full morning of work Tuesday, Hardman indicated he doesn’t see any issues with a hamstring going forward.
“It’s coming along,” he said. “I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things, trying to get back to full speed and just seeing how it feels when I’m going out there, but it’s coming along.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Defensive end Frank Clark’s absence Tuesday raised a few eyebrows because of the mandatory nature of the minicamp.
Clark, though, had a good reason as the Chiefs announced after the practice concluded that the defensive end was excused.
Cornerback Rashad Fenton (shoulder), tight end Blake Bell, defensive end Malik Herring, center Darryl Williams and rookie wide receiver Justyn Ross were not present.
Williams’ absence was later explained on Tuesday’s NFL Transactions report, as the Chiefs waived him.
Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who has not signed his franchise tag, remains away from the team, as expected.
Right tackle Lucas Niang, who continues to rehabilitate from a torn patellar tendon suffered during the 2021 regular season finale, made his first appearance of the offseason workout program. Niang sported a baseball cap and observed the on-field work off to the side.
Wide receiver Daurice Fountain, who missed time during OTAs for undisclosed reasons, appeared limited during Tuesday’s practice. He participated in individual drill, but took off his helmet during team drills and didn’t participate.
Running back Jerick McKinnon, whom the Chiefs reportedly brought back Monday on a one-year deal, was not on the practice field. The Chiefs announced his signing on Tuesday afternoon.
OBSERVATIONS
- The Chiefs’ media rules during mandatory minicamp are the same from OTAs, so reporting on personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays and situational plays are prohibited.
- What is allowed, however, are general observations about head-turning and notable plays, such as:
- Mahomes did it again with a no-look pass during team drills. He rolled right, froze linebacker Willie Gay Jr., and then threw across the grain to find wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was wide open. Gay threw his hands up in the air in disbelief.
- Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire made a nice grab on a wheel route on the left side of the field and took the pass from Mahomes on what would have been a touchdown. Defensive end Joshua Kaindoh was in coverage, and Mahomes took advantage of the mismatch.
- Valdes-Scantling, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, made a leaping grab over rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie, who measures 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, on the left sideline.
- Backup defensive end Austin Edwards made an athletic play on the right side of the line of scrimmage during 11-on-11 drills. At the snap of the ball, Edwards took a step forward but must have recognized the play because he stopped the pass rush and immediately jumped up to knock down quarterback Shane Buechele’s pass.
- Backup tight end Jordan Franks had one of the top receiving plays of the day during team drills. Franks flashed athleticism near the right sideline with a leaping two-handed grab of a pass from quarterback Chad Henne. Frank’s momentum was carrying him close to the sideline, but he appeared to get down both feet for the catch before tumbling out of bounds.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 2:55 PM with the headline "KC Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman returns after missing OTAs with a hamstring injury."
