Hey everyone, welcome to a quick Saturday update! The Kansas City Chiefs made some important roster moves ahead of their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The biggest news? Mecole Hardman has been placed on injured reserve (IR), and Nikko Remigio has been signed to the active roster. Let’s dive into what this means for the team moving forward.
Mecole Hardman’s Injury and Move to IR
Mecole Hardman’s season has taken another unfortunate turn. Yesterday, he popped up on the injury report with a knee issue, and Andy Reid confirmed that his knee had “locked up” during practice. Initially, it wasn’t clear how serious the injury was, but today, the news broke that Hardman will be placed on IR, meaning he’ll miss at least the next four games. This includes the Chiefs’ matchups against the Chargers, Browns, Texans, and Steelers.
While Hardman has not been a major offensive weapon this year, he has been a steady presence as the team’s punt returner. He hasn’t had any huge return touchdowns, but he has been reliable—no fumbles or muffed punts. With Hardman now sidelined, the Chiefs needed a reliable replacement on special teams.
Nikko Remigio Signs to the Active Roster
Instead of going with Montrell Washington, who has more NFL experience, the Chiefs have decided to promote Nikko Remigio from the practice squad to the active roster. This is an exciting move for the team and for Remigio, who gets another chance after a promising start to his career.
A former undrafted free agent from Fresno State, Remigio had a solid training camp in 2023 but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. He’s been on the practice squad all season, and now he’ll get the opportunity to step up. At 5’9” and 187 pounds, he’s on the smaller side, but he has experience as both a punt returner and kick returner. In college, Remigio returned 57 punts and 41 kickoffs, including two punt return touchdowns.
His primary role will likely be as the team’s punt returner, but we could also see him in some offensive packages. He’s not as fast as Hardman—Hardman ran a sub-4.3 40-yard dash—but Remigio has solid return skills, and the Chiefs are confident he can step in and fill the role without making costly mistakes.
Other Roster Moves
In addition to the Hardman and Remigio moves, the Chiefs also elevated linebacker Sey Boseman and tight end Baylor Cup from the practice squad for tomorrow night’s game. With the tight end position banged up due to injuries to several players, including Travis Kelce and Noah Gray, Cup will add some depth. This move is likely a response to those injuries and gives the Chiefs some flexibility heading into the game.
The Bottom Line
It’s tough for Mecole Hardman, who has battled injuries over the past few seasons, but it’s a chance for Nikko Remigio to make his mark on the team. If he can be as reliable as Hardman was on special teams, the Chiefs won’t miss a beat. As for offense, we’ll have to wait and see if Remigio gets some chances, but his experience on returns will definitely be crucial for the team moving forward.
What do you think of these roster moves? Are you excited to see Nikko Remigio in action? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
