GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the NFL’s front office circles, the Green Bay Packers are reportedly on the verge of executing a dramatic about-face, preparing to re-sign veteran wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman to their practice squad just days after releasing him. Sources close to the organization, speaking on condition of anonymity, describe the decision as a “U-turn” born out of desperation, with Packers brass stunned by the glaring holes exposed in their special teams unit during Sunday Night Football’s heart-stopping tie against the Dallas Cowboys.
The 27-year-old Hardman, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs and a former All-Pro kick returner, was unceremoniously cut from Green Bay’s practice squad on September 23 – a baffling move that left insiders scratching their heads. Just weeks earlier, Hardman had inked a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Packers in March, hoping to revive his career after a brief, underwhelming stint with the New York Jets in 2023, where he caught just two passes for 14 yards in 12 games before being traded back to Kansas City. His time in Green Bay’s training camp was rocky, marked by a fumbled punt and a dropped pass in the preseason opener against the Jets, which ultimately led to his initial roster cut on August 26 and subsequent practice squad signing.
But the Packers’ decision to release him last Tuesday, clearing space for undrafted rookie wideout Jakobie Keeney-James, now appears as a colossal misstep. With the team’s active roster hovering at just 52 players – leaving a precious open spot amid injuries to key receivers like Jayden Reed (on IR with a broken foot) and Christian Watson (still sidelined from ACL surgery) – the front office had every opportunity to keep Hardman in the fold. Instead, they let him walk, only to realize too late that their punt return woes were far from fixed.
A Special Teams Nightmare Exposed on Primetime
The tie against the Cowboys – a 13-13 thriller that saw Green Bay squander multiple leads – laid bare the Packers’ Achilles’ heel: their return game. Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden, thrust into punt return duties despite zero prior experience at the college or high school level, epitomized the chaos. In Week 4, Golden’s ill-fated two-yard return attempt devolved into a spin cycle of panic, culminating in a bone-rattling hit that pinned the Packers deep in their own territory. It’s the kind of boneheaded play that risks a first-round talent’s health and highlights the absurdity of experimenting with unproven players in high-stakes roles.
Golden’s season-long stats tell a grim tale: a measly 4.7 yards per punt return through four games, with just four returns total and a fanbase collectively holding its breath every time he fields a kick. The desperation peaked when head coach Matt LaFleur turned to reliable wideout Romeo Doubs – Green Bay’s steadiest receiving option with 28 catches for 312 yards already – to handle a late-game punt. Doubs, who shouldn’t be within 10 yards of the “thankless job” as one insider put it, fair-catched it safely but underscored the patchwork nature of the unit.
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, already under fire for the Packers’ persistent third-phase blunders, bears much of the blame. Despite signing a two-year extension in the offseason amid modest improvements in coverage rankings (from 29th in 2023 to 10th in 2024), his group has regressed. Blocked extra points, missed tackles, and conservative returns have plagued Green Bay, costing them crucial field position in close contests. “Bisaccia’s got the tools, but without a proven returner, it’s like handing a Ferrari to a learner’s permit driver,” quipped one NFC North scout. The Cowboys game amplified the issue, with Dallas pinning the Packers inside the 10-yard line twice on returns alone.
Hardman: The Obvious Fix They Let Slip Away
Enter Mecole Hardman, the ghost of solutions past. The former Georgia Bulldog and 2019 Pro Bowler ranked ninth in the NFL that year with a 10.2-yard punt return average, while also scoring touchdowns on both punt and kick returns over his career. His résumé screams reliability: 89 career punt returns for 820 yards (9.2 average), 45 kickoffs for 1,071 yards (23.8 average), and that unforgettable Super Bowl LVIII walk-off touchdown for the Chiefs. Even in his Jets detour – a “stunning” low point where he was traded mid-season for a seventh-round pick – Hardman flashed return prowess, averaging 8.5 yards on limited punts.
Insiders reveal that Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and his staff are “stunned” by the oversight, with internal discussions ramping up during the bye week. “They had the spot. They had the need. Releasing him was a panic move after Keeney-James’ workout impressed, but now it’s biting them,” said a source familiar with the deliberations. The plan? Re-sign Hardman to the practice squad immediately, where NFL rules allow up to three elevations per season to the gameday roster. From there, carve out 53-man space by potentially waiving an underperforming depth piece or banking on the roster’s current 52-man limbo.
It’s a low-risk proposition. Hardman, still just 27 and unsigned since his release, remains available and hungry. His veteran minimum salary – around $1.17 million base plus incentives – fits snugly under the cap, especially with Green Bay’s $12 million in projected 2025 wiggle room. As one front-office insider noted, “It’s not like that 53rd spot is sacred. They’ve run 52-man rosters before. This isn’t about keeping a sixth receiver; it’s about not letting Golden or Doubs get hurt doing a job they’re not built for.”
Why Now? Incoming Returns and a Playoff Push
The timing couldn’t be more urgent. With the bye week providing a reset, the Packers face a gauntlet ahead: returns from Watson (targeting mid-October), rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring recovery), and edge rusher Collin Oliver (PUP list). Adding Hardman doesn’t just plug the return hole; it frees Golden to develop as an offensive spark – the 2025 third-rounder has already shown flashes with 12 catches for 145 yards. Doubs can stay glued to Jordan Love’s hip, where he belongs.
League-wide, the buzz is electric. “Packers pulling a U-turn on Hardman? That’s front-office humility at its finest – or a sign they’re scared stiff of another special teams meltdown in January,” tweeted Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman, capturing the sentiment echoing through Lambeau’s halls. Fan forums and X (formerly Twitter) are ablaze, with calls of “#FreeMecole” trending locally since the release.
For Gutekunst, who assembled the league’s youngest roster (average age 24.8) and traded for star edge Micah Parsons in a blockbuster deal, this re-signing would signal adaptability over ego. After all, the Packers sit at 2-1-1, atop the NFC North, but special teams gaffes could derail their Super Bowl aspirations. Bringing back Hardman isn’t just a fix; it’s redemption – a “stunning Jets stint” transformed into Green Bay’s hidden weapon.
As one insider summed it up: “They let him go once. Twice would be malpractice. Expect the call by Wednesday. The U-turn is official.” In the cutthroat NFL, where hidden yardage wins championships, the Packers can’t afford to spin their wheels any longer. Hardman, phone in hand, awaits the ring.