Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Announces Unfortunate Injury News Ahead of AFC Championship Game Against Bills

Defending champions Kansas City Chiefs will take on Buffalo Bills on Sunday at the Arrowhead Stadium. It is the AFC Championship game; hence the winner will progress to the Super Bowl 49. If the Chiefs make it to the grand stage, it will be their 3rd in as many times. Bills on the other hand, have the chance to end the 31-year-long draught. Thus, the stakes cannot be bigger, and any injury at this moment could prove to be costly. Unfortunately, the Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid has notified that the team has been struck with an injury. 

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Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Disseminates Injury News Ahead of AFC Championship Game

Unfortunately, the Chiefs will be without wide receiver Mecole Hardman for the remainder of the season. Hardman, who has been out for more than a month with a knee injury, had hoped to return before the season concluded. The injury happened during a Week 14 practice, and Hardman was placed on injured reserve on December 7. While the Chiefs scheduled him to return on January 1, giving him a 21-day practice window, his recovery did not go as planned. 

According to head coach Andy Reid, the team plans to place him on injured reserve again, which would likely bring his season to a close.

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Mecole Hardman This Season

While Hardman's offensive production has been limited this season, with just 90 receiving yards, he continues to make a significant impact on special teams. He's handled 20 punt returns, averaging a respectable 10.2 yards per return. A longtime member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Hardman has spent nearly his entire six-year NFL career with the team, arriving from the University of Georgia.

Hardman did experience a brief departure from the Chiefs last season, inking a free agent deal with the New York Jets, but his time away was short-lived, as he was traded back to Kansas City mid-season.

Hardman capped off his season in dramatic fashion, hauling in the overtime touchdown that clinched the Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.