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Wednesday’s practice for the Kansas City Chiefs involved some injury speculation involving wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
“Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman limping to the medical tent after a rep during 11-on-11 drills, accompanied by head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder. Looks like they’re looking at Hardman’s left leg,” Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star wrote on Tuesday, August 17 during Chiefs practice.
“Brett Veach and Andy Reid over there checking on Hardman,” Teope wrote in a separate tweet. “Looks like his practice is over, he’s now on way up the hill in a cart, riding in passenger side.”
Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star provided further clarification that Hardman emerged from the medical tent on his own, “though with a limp,” and walked his way over to the cart before being driven away.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport shared that Hardman is being evaluated for a groin injury, and that the severity of the injury is unknown, “but Hardman being able to walk off the field (before jumping on a cart to head into the building) was a good sign.”
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Chris Jones Leaves Practice for Unknown Reason
Another noteworthy absence for Kansas City on Wednesday was defensive tackle, Chris Jones. While Jones was present for practice at the start of the session, he left just several minutes into practice in a cart and never returned according to reporters on-scene.
After practice it was shared that Jones left practice with a sore back, according to Teope.
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who missed practice on Tuesday due to a sore knee according to Reid, was not present for any portion of Wednesday’s practice, marking his second straight DNP. Running back Jerick McKinnon was also absent from Wednesday’s session due to a hamstring injury, according to Alex Gold of 610SportsKC.
TE Blake Bell Sidelined With ‘Unusual Injury’
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided injury updates on two players following practice on Monday, August 15.
One of the updates was on veteran tight end Blake Bell, who exited Kansas City’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears with a hip injury and didn’t return to action. Bell was not present at practice on Monday and Reid explained that the injury Bell sustained was to his hip flexor. Reid also called it an “unusual” injury.
Reid further explained that the injury to Bell occurred on the team’s opening drive when the veteran tight end caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to cap off an 11-play, 72-yard drive. Bell attempted to re-enter the game following the injury but was too injured to stay in the game, which is why it appeared as though he suffered a non-contact injury.
Since that update from Reid, Bell has missed two straight practice sessions.
Chiefs Lose to Bears in Preseason Opener
The Chiefs lost to the Bears 19-14 on the road in their preseason opener.
Kansas City’s offensive starters played one series together. That drive consisted of 11 plays, 72 yards, and the touchdown pass from Mahomes to Bell.
On that drive, Mahomes completed 6-of-7 pass attempts for 60 yards and the touchdown. Each of his completions went to a different pass-catcher (Michael Burton, Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Isiah Pacheco, and Bell). Mahomes was pulled from the lineup after that series and was replaced by veteran Chad Henne, who continued to play with the offensive starters.
The leading receiver for the Chiefs was Justin Watson, who caught 5 passes for 45 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Shane Buechele just before halftime.
Rookie linebacker Leo Chenal, one of Kansas City’s third-round picks, led the Chiefs in tackles (6) and tackles for loss (2), per ESPN. He played deep into the fourth quarter and was wearing the green dot for the defense late in the second half.
Next up for the Chiefs on their preseason schedule is a game against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium at 3:25 p.m. CST on August 20.
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