Considering the Green Bay Packers passed on elevating him from the practice squad last week, it should probably come as no surprise that the team released veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman from the practice squad on Tuesday.
The Packers placed slot receiver and returner Jayden Reed on injured reserve last Saturday but chose not to elevate Hardman — a veteran in the slot and as a returner — from the practice squad for Sunday’s trip to Cleveland. If Hardman wasn’t worth elevating after losing Reed early in the season, would he ever be? It’s possible both sides decided a split was the best course of action moving forward.
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Releasing Hardman was part of three roster moves on Tuesday, including the signing of rookie offensive lineman Brant Banks from the practice squad to the 53-man roster (as reported earlier Tuesday) and the signing of receiver Jakobie Keeney-James to the practice squad. The signing of Banks and release of Hardman leaves one open spot on the 53-man roster and one open spot on the practice squad as of Tuesday.
Keeney-James is a rookie out of UMass. He spent training camp with the Detroit Lions. At the collegiate level, Keeney-James caught 111 passes for 1,664 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With Reed injured dating back to training camp, the Packers have used rookie Savion Williams on kickoff returns and rookie Matthew Golden on punt returns to start the 2025 season.
Hardman signed a one-year deal to join the Packers this offseason. He caught three passes on eight targets for 30 yards (one drop), rushed one time for 14 yards and returned four punts for 20 yards (one muffed punt) during the preseason. The Packers released him at final cuts but signed him back to the practice squad to start the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers release WR Mecole Hardman from practice squad ahead of Week 4