Mecole Hardman is staying put in Buffalo.
Hardman was one of 12 players signed to a reserve/future contract on Monday, the Bills announced.
The 27-year-old receiver proved his worth during Saturdayâs 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, hauling in a 4-yard touchdown on his only catch of the game.
Hardman Played a Key Role in Playoff Loss
Hardmanâs catch, his first as a Bill, was nearly identical to his game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hardman also appeared in two regular-season games as a Bill, in which he recorded only one target and lost a fumble.
After initially joining Buffalo’s practice squad, Hardman made his Bills debut in a 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11. He had a 61-yard kickoff return but hurt his calf later in the game returning a punt. The Bills subsequently put Hardman on injured reserve, forcing him to miss more than a month.
His additional workload on Saturday came with Josh Palmer (ankle), Tyrell Shavers (knee) and Gabe Davis (knee) all having landed on IR.
Hardman Was a Star Kick Returner With Chiefs
Hardman spent the preseason with the Green Bay Packers but was released in August as part of final roster cuts. The next day, Hardman re-signed with the Packersâ practice squad before being cut again following Week 3.
Hardman is best known for his time with the Chiefs, where he won three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, LVIII) and earned Second Team All-Pro honors as a rookie kick returner in 2019.
The 2019 second-round pick (56th overall) out of Georgia has appeared in 82 regular-season games over six seasons, recording 178 catches for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also rushed for three touchdowns and returned two kicks for scores.
Bills Sign 12 Players to Futures Contracts
In addition to Hardman, the Bills also signed defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote, linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo, offensive lineman Travis Clayton, defensive back TeâCory Couch, cornerback M.J. Devonshire, running back Frank Gore Jr., wide receiver Stephen Gosnell, linebacker Keonta Jenkins, defensive end Andre Jones Jr., defensive tackle Zion Logue, and defensive back Daryl Porter Jr.
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