Mecole Hardman Jr. entered the Buffalo Bills’ preseason as a player trying to force his way onto the 53-man roster, and that race may now come down to a single wide receiver spot. The Bills open preseason on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, and Hardman is no longer being treated like a safe bet to stay.
That matters because the Bills are likely to keep DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer and Skyler Bell, which would leave only one opening at wide receiver. Hardman is fighting for that job over the next few weeks, and John Green said he could be in danger of losing it even though he has been fairly solid through two-and-a-half weeks of camp. Green also noted that Hardman has gotten first-team punt return work, a role that gives him a path onto the roster if he can turn it into something more than a placeholder job.
The reasons to keep watching are plain. Hardman needs plays in the preseason, both as a returner and as a receiver, to raise his chances of making the final 53-man roster by Aug. 30. If he slips, the door swings the other way just as fast. Green said that if Hardman falters, his chance of being off the roster goes up, which is the reality for a player who can help in only a narrow set of spots.
That is what makes his case unusual. Hardman has spent seven seasons in the NFL, with six seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, one with the New York Jets and one with the Bills. He has 82 career games, 178 receptions, 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns, plus three Super Bowls, and he caught the game-sealing touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. He also appeared in two games for Buffalo last season and made one reception, which shows how quickly a veteran with a big résumé can still end up on the edge of the roster.
Joe Buscaglia’s latest projection reflects that uncertainty. He moved Hardman onto his 53-man roster after previously having him on the outside looking in, and said the Bills may need to keep him and work him into a handful of offensive snaps to make the punt-return value worthwhile. Buscaglia also said Skyler Bell was rarely involved in punt return reps during open practices and is injured, which helps explain why the conversation around Hardman has shifted. The Bills still have preseason work to do, but for Hardman the equation is already simple: make enough plays now, or leave the field open for someone else by Aug. 30.
