What happened to Mecole Hardman? Chiefs star suffers potentially serious injury
The Chiefs came into the game depending on Mecole Hardman as the likes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were not fully fit. And during the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he played a pivotal role in one play but ended up hurting himself.
The Kansas City Chiefs went into halftime leading 13-6. But they gave up a field goal within the last two minutes and then the Bengals returned to level the game 13-13 in the third quarter. The Chiefs offense was stalling and they needed an inspiration.
On third-and-5, they needed to convert to keep the drive going and keep the Cincinnati offense off the field. Patrick Mahomes rolled out and threw for the first down to Mecole Hardman. In the process, he seemed to put a bit more pressure on his injured ankle than he would have liked to.
But Mecole Hardman was one of the more seriously injured as he was flattened by the Bengals defense after the catch, with Logan Wilson putting in a monster hit.
On 3rd & 5, Patrick Mahomes 11-yd pass to Mecole Hardman
#Bengals 13 #Chiefs 13 3ʀᴅ https://t.co/ffHNTjSYmA
Mecole Hardman among the many Chiefs player nursing injuries
While we will get to know the extent of the injury in due course, it was not surprising to see Mecole Hardman hurt after the big hit. He has struggled with injuries this season. He missed time earlier this season with an abdominal issue. He missed their last game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFC Divisional Round and was ruled out as he was dealing with a pelvic problem. It was revealed today that there was a recurrence of the same injury due to the hit.
There is a chance that they may not have risked him today but they needed him to be there with issues all across their receiving corps. The Chiefs have taken a lot of hits over the season and they are now piling up.
Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kadarius Toney, Willie Gay and L'Jarius Sneed have all missed time today. We know Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are fighting through their own injuries.
Especially critical were the injuries on the offense to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had a high ankle sprain. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had a knee injury. Kadarius Toney also suffered an ankle injury. Tight end Travis Kelce was battling a back injury during the game.
Despite all these absences, and even after Mecole Hardman's injury, the Chiefs managed to score a touchdown with Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It shows Kansas City's ability to dig deep even with all the odds against them. They have gotten past many adversities to make it to the cusp of getting to the Super Bowl.