Bills Cut Mecole Hardman Jr. Amid Wide Receiver Depth Chart Crunch

On August 29, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler announced that the Buffalo Bills released veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr.. The 28-year-old, a 2019 second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl champion, joined Buffalo for the 2025 season but appeared in only two regular-season games before being cut. He now joins the open market for the league’s 31 other teams.

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Hardman faced a crowded depth chart that includes DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Skyler Bell, Tyrell Shavers, and Trent Sherfield. Buscaglia noted that Hardman missed Tuesday’s practice, suggesting a “poorly timed injury” that further hurt his chances. At the same time, Sherfield’s strong showing against the Cleveland Browns has positioned him as a potential practice-squad stash or active-roster call-up, reducing the need for an additional veteran slot.

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Team officials have not issued a formal statement. Buscaglia’s analysis, published earlier, highlighted the dual pressures of depth-chart competition and injury timing as the primary drivers of the Bills’ decision. He also emphasized the organization’s desire to retain versatile players like Davis and Sherfield, who have demonstrated recent upside on special teams and in game action.

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• “I just gotta make sure they give me that ball. That’s all I’m worried about right now. But, I’m super grateful. I was super excited to, you know, get my first one,” — Skyler Bell

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Rookie wideout Skyler Bell, a 2026 fourth-round pick, posted a strong preseason performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching seven of ten targets and scoring a 28-yard touchdown on a jet sweep. Bell’s confidence, expressed after the game, underscores his readiness to assume a larger role as the Bills finalize their 53-man roster.

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