Overview
- Drinkwitz posted on X Sunday that Hardy will return to team practice this week and that Missouri’s medical staff will determine when he can play in games.
- The coach has said he wants to see two full weeks of full-speed practice before clearing Hardy for game action, making him unlikely to play at Arkansas on Oct. 31.
- Hardy missed the first seven games after being shot in the leg at a May concert in Laurel, Mississippi and undergoing offseason surgery.
- Missouri is 5-2 and Jamal Roberts has handled lead rushing duties in Hardy’s absence, giving the Tigers a functioning backfield while coaches manage Hardy’s reintegration.
- A healthy, game-ready Hardy would reshape Missouri’s run game and could influence playcalling and the team’s postseason hopes during a difficult November schedule.