Overview
- Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said Monday that Hardy has been medically cleared after the gunshot wound he suffered in May and that the bone struck by the bullet has fully healed.
- Hardy was shot in the upper leg after leaving a concert in Laurel, Mississippi, underwent surgery in May, and was released from the hospital two days later.
- The program has started a structured rehabilitation plan and expects a return-to-play protocol of roughly five to eight weeks while emphasizing the timeline and final outcome remain uncertain.
- Hardy led the SEC last season with 1,649 rushing yards and set Missouri’s single-season rushing touchdown mark with 16 scores, making his availability a key factor for the Tigers’ 2026 game plans.
- Coaches say the team’s medical staff, athletic performance team and nutritionists will monitor progress and that Missouri’s Sept. 3 season opener will serve as a practical benchmark for assessing his recovery.