Former Georgia star WR released by Green Bay Packers, per report
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The final week of the 2025 NFL season has wrapped up, and now teams are gearing up for a pivotal moment: the Tuesday deadline to finalize their rosters to 53 players.
As the decisions loom, former Georgia star receiver Mecole Hardman will be looking elsewhere. Per reports from CBS Sports, Hardaman, who was set to kick off his seventh season in the NFL, has been released by Green Bay.
A standout player during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Hardaman was part of three Super Bowl-winning squads over six seasons. However, his journey took an unforunate turn last season when he suffered a knee injury in Week 14 and found himself on the injured reserve for the remainder of the season, missing out on playoff action.
In March, Hardman signed with the Green Bay Packers in hopes of reviving his career. With impressive stats including 178 receptions for 2,303 yards and 16 touchdowns (with his longes catch of 83 yards), his speed and versatiotlity were seen as valuable assets for both offensive plays and kickoff returns. Yet now it seems that the Pro Bowlers’ opportunity to shine may have slipped away.
During his final season at Georgia he was named ESPN.com All-America First Team (kick returner) 2018 AP & Coaches’ All-SEC 2nd Team. The Chiefs later took Hardman with the 56th overall pick in 2019.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
