Andy Reid says it will be 'tough' for Mecole Hardman to play in Super Bowl
When it comes to the Super Bowl, both teams want to have all hands on deck. Even so, it already sounds as if Andy Reid expects to be missing a key piece in the passing game in Glendale.
Per Marleah Campbell of KCTV5, Andy Reid said Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman is doubtful for the Super Bowl. After reaggravating a pelvis injury in the AFC Championship Game, that will make it very difficult for him to get back in the lineup in time for Kansas City.
Hardman appeared 9 games this season, including last weekend’s win over Cincinnati. In those games, he caught 27 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. He hadn’t played since November 6th, though, with that injury to his pelvis.
Still, considering he got himself back in order to help Kansas City get to their third Super Bowl in four years, Reid gave Hardman nothing but credit for pushing himself and his perseverance.
“He was not going to be denied the other day. That’s a tribute to the kid,” Reid said per Nate Taylor at The Athletic. “He pushes himself like no other. He’s a tough, tough kid.”
It looks as though Patrick Mahomes’ receiving corps will have enough weapons with both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney making positive progress toward playing on February 12th. However, when it comes to Hardman, Reid is already pessimistic about the chance of him taking the field less than two weeks from now.
Several Dallas Cowboys players undergo offseason surgery
While in attendance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile on Wednesday, Stephen and Jerry Jones revealed that multiple Dallas Cowboys players have or will undergo offseason surgery. Wideout Michael Gallup had surgery on Tuesday and several more also went under the knife to get right following the 2022 season.
Defensive back Jayron Kearse will have surgery for a right shoulder injury on Thursday. Meanwhile, All-Pro offensive tackle Tyron Smith had surgery on his knee, safety Malik Hooker underwent thumb surgery and linebacker Luke Gifford had surgery for an inner-core muscle injury.
It seems the team was a little more banged up than it seemed when they took on the 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs. Kearse and Smith both battled their injuries for weeks as the Cowboys attempted to move past the second round for the first time in almost three decades.
Running back Tony Pollard also completed surgery on his ankle last week after suffering a high-ankle sprain and a fractured fibula in the loss to San Francisco.
Although Kearse, Hooker and Gifford are locked in for 2023, Smith and Pollard are on Dallas’ list of 20 free agents.