Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared to begin a return-to-play protocol after suffering a gunshot wound to his leg in May. Speaking at SEC Media Days on Monday, coach Eli Drinkwitz indicated Hardy is expected to make a full recovery, but the exact timeline for his return to the field remains uncertain.
“Ahmad has been medically cleared from the bullet that struck him,” Drinkwitz said. “He is on the road to recovery. The bullet did strike a bone in his body. That has been fully healed and cleared. Today was his first day back towards a full recovery.”
Having Hardy — a first-team Athlon Sports’ All-American — back in the lineup is crucial for a Missouri team looking to take the next step in 2026. In his first season with the Tigers last year, Hardy led the SEC with 1,649 rushing yards and posted 16 scores on the ground. With an inconsistent passing game, Missouri leaned heavily on Hardy to power an offense that averaged 30.2 points a contest.
“We do anticipate that this return-to-play protocol could take anywhere between five to eight weeks. At the end of the eight weeks, we still don't know what his recovery will be,” Drinkwitz indicated.
The Tigers open with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, Sept. 3, followed by a rivalry showdown versus Kansas on Sept. 11. Drinkwitz’s team then plays Troy on Sept. 19, with the SEC opener at Mississippi State slated for Sept. 26.
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An eight-week timetable for a return potentially puts Hardy on track to play in Missouri’s SEC opener on Sept. 26 or by early October when the team has a crucial stretch of conference games against Florida (Oct. 3), Texas A&M (Oct. 10) and at Ole Miss (Oct. 17). However, even after that eight-week window, Hardy may not be ready to step onto the field.
“We do not know exactly what the return-to-play progression is because there's not a lot of literature on this,” Drinkwitz said on Monday. “We are utilizing our medical team, along with our athletic performance team and nutrition, to approach this at a very good pace.”
Despite the positive update in Tampa at SEC media days, along with a potential timeline, a ton of uncertainty still remains about when Hardy will take his first carry in ’26.
Until Hardy returns to action, Missouri can lean heavily on Jamal Roberts in the backfield. In 13 games last season, Roberts ran for 753 yards and six touchdowns. Also, the Tigers are optimistic about growth in the passing game behind Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons and new coordinator Chip Lindsey.
