When the Kansas City Chiefs selected Mecole Hardman in the second round of the 2019 draft, they knew they were getting a team player with all the attributes they wanted in a No. 2 receiver. While his development hasn’t come along as quickly as they might have hoped, Hardman remains a key factor in the team’s offensive strategy every week, even if he isn’t on the field as much as he once was.
Hardman is rolling with the punches that result from a slow in 2021. With inconsistency came a lack of trust within the Chiefs’ coaching staff, but now removed from some of the tribulations of the early schedule, it isn’t out of the question that he could see an uptick in production in the few remaining games of this season.
In Kansas City’s Tuesday press conference Hardman told reporters that he’s happy overall with the way the team is playing, which is enough for him to be content in his situation.
“It just is what it is,” Hardman said of his recent usage as a more complimentary option. “We’re winning games, so I’ve got nothing to complain about. Whenever my number is called, I just go out there and do what I need to do and play my role whatever that role is, and I’ll play it to the best of my ability.”
On whether or not he sat down with coaches to talk specifically about his decreased role, Hardman made it clear that there was never a specific meeting about the drop in playing time, but that the transition came naturally.
“There really weren’t discussions,” He explained. “It’s just how things are playing out and I just go with it. There isn’t much I can say. Like I said, do what I need to do and whenever they call me to go in there or whatever they’ve got for me, just go in there and do what I need to do. Make plays when my number is called, but other than that, it is what it is right now.”
Kansas City will need all hands on deck to make another Super Bowl run, and with so much riding on the offense’s ability to score points while the Chiefs’ defense is playing up to its full potential, Hardman has a huge opportunity to prove he is capable of the snaps he once received. A big performance in primetime against the Chargers on Thursday would go a long way towards rebuilding some of the trust he lost with the coaches and fans earlier this season.
