Chiefs

Chiefs place wide receiver Mecole Hardman on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Chiefs placed second-year wide receiver Mecole Hardman on the reserve/COVID-19 list, per the NFL transactions report.

A player who appears on the list has not necessarily tested positive but rather might be considered a “high risk close contact.”

“I’m good for everyone asking,” Hardman tweeted later Wednesday.

The Chiefs are on a bye this week, but players are still getting tested daily at a trailer neighboring their facilities at Truman Sports Complex, in line with the league’s protocols.

Hardman, 22, is the fourth Chiefs player to land on the COVID-19/reserve list this season. Practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu contracted the virus earlier this season, and fullback Anthony Sherman and defensive tackle Chris Jones have also spent time on the list, though Jones was removed just one day later. All three players have since returned. Chiefs vice president of sports and performance Rick Burkholder tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

The league’s numbers have jumped recently, following suit with spikes across the country. Last week, 15 players tested positive for COVID-19, and 41 other team personnel members tested positive.

The Kansas City metro added 950 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday. The seven-day average is 1,015, a record high.

Hardman has 25 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns this season, the bulk of his production coming in the last three weeks, when he has 12 catches for 201 yards.

• The Chiefs also asked the NFL to look into a matter in which an NFL Players Association representative met with players last month while not wearing a mask, according to ESPN. The NFLPA said it took action after learning of the situation, the report said.

This story was originally published November 11, 2020 at 4:18 PM.

Sam McDowell
The Kansas City Star
Sam McDowell is a columnist for The Star who has covered Kansas City sports for more than a decade. He has won national awards for columns, features and enterprise work. The Headliner Awards named him the 2024 national sports columnist of the year.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER