Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy Still Without Timetable to Return

Missouri remains without a firm timetable for star RB Ahmad Hardy to return to the practice field as he continues working his way back from a gunshot wound suffered during the offseason.

According to Pete Nakos, there is still no set date for Hardy to resume practicing. The Tigers open SEC play next week against Mississippi State, but Hardy has not yet fully returned to practice.

HC Eli Drinkwitz also provided an update on Hardy this week and made it clear Missouri will remain patient with the All-American running back.

“The biggest thing for us is just trying to get Ahmad back healthy and put him out there in a position to be successful,” Drinkwitz said. “You can’t rush it. He’s like a thoroughbred. Unless his gait is exactly where it needs to be, you can’t put him in a bad position.”

Hardy suffered a gunshot wound in May and has been working through the recovery process throughout the offseason. Drinkwitz said in July that Hardy had been medically cleared from the gunshot injury and could begin working toward a return to football, but he has yet to fully return to practice.

Hardy is coming off a huge 2025 season in which he earned All-American honors and set Missouri’s single-season rushing record with 1,649 yards while scoring 16 rushing TDs.

In Hardy’s absence, Jamal Roberts has taken over as Missouri’s RB1. Roberts has recorded 172 rushing yards and 2 TDs through the Tigers first 2 games, while Xai’Shaun Edwards has stepped into the RB2 role.