Ahmad Hardy’s long-awaited return to Missouri practice is finally on the horizon.
Tiger coach Eli Drinkwitz confirmed Sunday that the standout running back, who has been sidelined since suffering a gunshot wound on May 10 and undergoing surgery right after, will get back on the practice field this week. Hardy has not played in a game this season, though he has been visible around the program at fall camp practices and before several home games.
“After consulting with our medical team, Ahmad Hardy will return to practice this week. Our medical staff will determine his return to game action.”
That update comes after weeks of speculation and a steady stream of questions for Drinkwitz, who had been asked repeatedly about Hardy’s status as rumors circulated online. Earlier, when pressed on Oct. 13 about a message-board rumor, Drinkwitz said he would be the one to break the news.
"If he practices, I promise I'll tweet it out," Drinkwitz said. "I know everybody's excited about where we're at and all that good stuff... when he's available, I promise you, we'll be excited to use him. But that's not the story right now."
Now Missouri at least has a clearer next step, even if the timeline for game action remains unsettled. Drinkwitz has said several times this season that Hardy would need a “two-week ramp-up” before he could return, but it’s not clear whether that remains the plan. Drinkwitz is scheduled to speak with reporters at noon Tuesday.
Missouri is 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference, and it heads to Arkansas for a 6:45 p.m. matchup Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks enter at 3-4 and 1-3.
In Hardy’s absence, senior tailback Jamal Roberts has carried the load and kept the Tigers’ ground game rolling. He sits second in the conference with 867 rushing yards and has scored eight touchdowns.
Roberts also posted 200-plus rushing yards in consecutive games against then-No. 8 Florida and Texas A&M.
Missouri’s depth has been tested beyond Hardy, too. Backup Malae Fonoti went down with a non-contact ACL injury against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Week 1 and is done for the season. That has left Roberts working alongside first-year FBS back Xai'Shaun Edwards, former walk-on Anthony Favrow, and true freshmen Preston Hatfield and Maxwell Warner.
Hardy’s return to practice should ease some of that pressure on Roberts, who has logged 20 or more carries in each of his last six games. It also gives Missouri a major addition back into a backfield that has been stretched thin for much of the season.
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