Missouri's Ahmad Hardy Reportedly Won't Return for Start of Season amid Rehab from Gunshot Wound

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy will not return for the start of the 2026 season amid his ongoing recovery from a gunshot wound, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Saturday.

Hardy is continuing to target a "mid-September" return date, according to Thamel.

Missouri said in a May statement Hardy "was the victim of a shooting at a concert in Mississippi."

He underwent surgery to treat his gunshot wound May 10, according to Mizzou.

The Tigers are set to open the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said at SEC media days in July Hardy had been "medically cleared" and "is on the road to recovery."

"The bullet did strike a bone in his body, and that has been fully healed and cleared... we anticipate he will make a recovery," Drinkwitz said in July. "What that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined."

Drinkwitz said Missouri was expecting return-to-play protocol to take between five and eight weeks, a timeline that would put Hardy's return at Sept. 15.

In his most recent update on the running back, Drinkwitz said Aug. 2 Hardy "will be a participant in rehab and walkthroughs as we continue just to get him acclimated back to what it would take to play football."

He was back at practice watching teammates from the sidelines as of Aug. 12, per Missouri Tigers on SI's Killian Wright.

As of Saturday, Hardy had not yet resumed participation in practice with the Tigers, per Thamel.

Hardy racked up an SEC-high 1,649 rushing yards to go alongside 16 touchdowns in 13 games during his first season with the Tigers since transfering from Louisiana-Monroe.

Mizzou will likely lean on Jamal Roberts, who rushed for 753 yards last season in his third year with the Tigers, as Hardy continues working his way back to the field.

True freshman Xai-Shaun Edwards could also see more playing time as Drinkwitz prepares to potentially start the season without his star running back.