Ahmad Hardy’s season debut for Missouri will have to wait.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Tigers star running back is not expected to be available for Week 1 of the 2026-27 season, and Missouri is aiming for a return in mid-September. Hardy is still working back after suffering a gunshot wound to the upper leg at a concert in May.
“Sources: Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy will not be available for the start of the season, as he still hasn’t practiced for the Tigers. The target for his return is mid-September, as he continues to rehab and recover from his gun shot wound. pic.twitter.com/4kx6IA9mwC
- Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 22, 2026”
That timeline means Hardy is facing a tight ramp-up before Missouri gets deep into its schedule. He has not practiced yet, so the Tigers will have only a short window to get him back into game shape before SEC play begins to stack up.
And that matters because Hardy was electric last season. The All-SEC back ran for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
If he gets back to anything close to that level, Missouri will be getting a massive lift. The big question is whether he can still move like the player who looked every bit like a Heisman-level talent last fall.
A mid-September return would put Hardy on track for Missouri’s Sept. 19 home game against Troy, but it could also mean he misses a key stretch to open the year. The Tigers start with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3, then head to Lawrence to face rival Kansas on Sept.
- Missouri opens SEC play on Sept. 26 at Mississippi State.
In Other News...
Mizzou Camp Ends With Two Rising Tigers Demanding Attention
Mizzou wrapped up its 2026 fall camp with a scrimmage at Faurot Stadium, then sent Eli Drinkwitz, Donovan Olugbode and Chris Graves Jr. to the podium as the Tigers shifted from August work to game-week preparation. With Arkansas-Pine Bluff up first on Sept. 3, the final day of camp offered a snapshot of where the roster is settling in and which young players are starting to force their way into the conversation.
Olugbode spent his time talking through the growth in his receiving game, while Graves centered his remarks on man-to-man coverage and the kind of communication demanded in the secondary. For a team still sorting out roles before the opener, those are the sorts of details that matter in camp, and both players left the impression that they are pressing for more attention as the Tigers turn toward the season. [Read more 🡒]
Missouris Week 1 Outlook Just Got More Complicated Around Ahmad Hardy
Missouris opening week plan took a hit before the season even starts, as Eli Drinkwitz confirmed Ahmad Hardy will sit out the first week while recovering from a gunshot wound. The head coach also said Hardys full return timeline remains undecided, leaving the Tigers to prepare for the opener without one of the most important pieces of their backfield.
Drinkwitz did offer some clarity on the rest of the injury picture, updating the statuses of Jamal Roberts, Jabari Brady, Donta Simpson, Braylon Ellison and Gavin Hoffman as Missouri sorts through who can be ready for the season opener. For a team already juggling early-season expectations, the question now is how quickly that group can get back to full strength and whether the offense can absorb the loss if Hardys absence stretches beyond the first week. [Read more 🡒]
Drinkwitz Addresses Mizzou Injury Concerns As Opener Nears
Missouri is working through the final stretch of camp with a few injury concerns still worth watching after Eli Drinkwitz updated the status of several players following the Tigers second scrimmage. Tight end Gavin Hoffman is dealing with a grade one hamstring strain, wide receiver Jabari Brady has a hyperextended knee and bone bruise, and offensive lineman Braylon Ellison is also sidelined with an unspecified injury, though all three are expected to be back soon.
There was better news on the defensive side, where Donta Simpson has returned to full practice after a medical condition earlier in camp. With the opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff approaching, Missouri is trying to balance the usual August wear and tear with keeping its depth intact, and the next few days should offer a clearer picture of which pieces are ready to go when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]