The Buffalo Bills will release veteran returner and wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team will release veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky, and rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. will receive the starting role.
The Bills are releasing veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 29, 2026
The decisions to release Hardman and Wishnowsky occur as Buffalo seeks to reduce the roster to 53 players before the NFL deadline of 6 p.m. ET Sunday.
Hardman’s best hope of making the active roster was as a punt returner. However, the Bills have been giving running back and kick returner Ray Davis chances as a punt returner as well, thus reducing Hardman’s chances.
Ray Davis has had the ball muffed on one of his punts during the third preseason game. Time will tell what the long-term answer to punt returner is for the Bills, but they chose not to keep Hardman around.
The three-time Super Bowl champion of the Kansas City Chiefs joined the practice squad of Buffalo in November of last year.
The 28-year-old Hardman appeared in four games in 2025.
Hardman’s Pedigree
Hardman played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he got drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
He won Super Bowl LIV, LVII, and LVIII with the Chiefs, scoring a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII to win the game in overtime. He has also played for the New York Jets.
