On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills received some positive injury news on an exciting addition to their wide receiver room. The Bills have dealt with a mix of injuries and team suspensions throughout both their receiving corps and tight ends room, but a bit of good news is a great sign for Buffalo as the league approaches the home stretch of the season.
WR Mecole Hardman, formerly of the Chiefs, Jets, and Packers, had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday. Hardman is currently on Injured Reserve (IR) after he suffered a calf injury against Tampa Bay, his first game active for the Bills. Now that his practice window is open, he can work with the team throughout the week, though he’ll have to be officially activated off of IR before he can be added back to the roster for game days. If his practice window expires before he’s activated, Hardman would revert to IR for the rest of the season.
Hardman provided an exciting spark as a kick returner for the Bills when they needed it most, and his return is a boost to a Bills team looking for some dynamism from their receivers. He previously won three Super Bowls in six seasons with the Chiefs, and also had brief stints with the Jets and Packers.
The Buffalo Bills Need More From Their Wide Receivers
GettyKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 10: Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs returns a missed field goal in the second quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
It’s no secret that the Bills need more from their receivers. On the season, WR Khalil Shakir is their leading receiver with 62 receptions for 650 yards. Shakir is reliable and productive, but your leading receiver having just 650 yards 14 games into the season is not good enough in the modern NFL.
Of Buffalo’s top seven pass catchers by total yardage this season, only three are wide receivers: Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer. If we extend that to the top nine, only four are receivers (Tyrell Shavers gets added to the list). On one hand, it’s impressive that the Bills get as much production as they do from their running backs and tight ends in the passing game. On the other, they need more explosive and consistent weapons on the outside.
Coleman, in particular, has come under fire this season for his maturity (or lack thereof). He was suspended by the team for two games earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team. The second-year pro out of Florida State was expected to take a step this year as a down-to-down weapon for reigning MVP QB Josh Allen. That hasn’t materialized.
The Buffalo Bills Can Still Repeat as Division Winners
It’ll be a bit of an uphill battle, but the Bills notched a huge win over the Patriots on Sunday, putting them right back in the mix for the AFC East. With a little help, they can win the division for the sixth straight season.
The Patriots are still one game up on the Bills with three to play. Buffalo also lost to Miami earlier this year, adding an extra division loss New England doesn’t have. But if the Bills win out and the Patriots slip up against the Dolphins or Jets to close the year, Buffalo can swoop in and steal the division — they just have to take care of business first.
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