Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, out with a knee injury since early December, will not be activated off injured reserve and is out for the season, coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) will not be activated from injured reserve, per head coach Andy Reid.

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provides crucial update on wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s injury status | @EdEastonJr

The injury occurred during a Week 14 practice, and Hardman was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 7. While the Chiefs designated him to return on Jan. 1 — giving him a 21-day practice window — his recovery didn’t progress as hoped.

The Kansas City Chiefs will not return a key reinforcement as they aim for their fifth Super Bowl appearance in the past six seasons. Head coach Andy Reid

We’ll probably put him back on IR,” head coach Andy Reid said of Hardman on Wednesday, which was the deadline for activating him to the 53-man roster. Without that roster move, he’ll remain on IR for the rest of the season.

Nov 10, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) returns a kick against the Denver Broncos during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Former Georgia playmaker Mecole Hardman Jr. was working to be available this postseason for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to have to continue their Super Bowl journey without one of their key players.

Fears emerged over the fitness of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship game when the two-time Super Bowl

Reid is known for many things — his deep passing attack, his penchant for trick plays, his affection for cheeseburgers and Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirts. In 26 years as a head coach, Reid has become most known around the NFL as the screen master, his schematic innovations of the play being one of his core contributions to the sport.