The Green Bay Packers' wide receiver battle is over. In the hours ahead, general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur will determine which pass-catchers join the five roster locks, if any.
Veteran Mecole Hardman is unlikely to be among them.
The former Super Bowl champion put in a disastrous display to begin the preseason and never truly recovered. LaFleur's late-game decision in Saturday's victory over the Seattle Seahawks likely sealed Hardman's fate in Green Bay.
"Hardman no longer returning punts in this second half. Will Sheppard is. Odd," Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette noted during the game.
Matt LaFleur's second-half decision likely spells doom for Mecole Hardman's Packers future
Being pulled from a preseason game at halftime is often an encouraging sign, but in Hardman's case, it feels like the opposite, as he hadn't done much to set himself apart from the other receivers over the past few weeks.
Hardman opened the preseason with a fumbled punt and a dropped catch, and while the veteran improved in the next two games, he hardly stood out. Against Seattle on Saturday, he had a 10-yard rush, a 3-yard reception, and a 10-yard punt return. That's it.
LaFleur's decision to pivot to Will Sheppard feels important for two reasons.
One, it likely signals the end of Hardman's time in Green Bay. He was never likely to feature heavily on offense and had to stand out on special teams, which he rarely did. If Hardman isn't going to make the 53, the smart move is to give Sheppard, a practice-squad contender, an opportunity to show what he can do with live reps.
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The Packers may not keep more than five receivers on the 53-man roster: Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Savion Williams. They are the locks.
Malik Heath has a stronger case for a spot than Hardman, but that's about it. Other receivers showed promise and may earn practice-squad offers, but not enough for the initial 53.
It likely means the end for Hardman. He shouldn't have a long wait to find a new team, but LaFleur all but sealed his fate by benching him at halftime.