Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared and is expected to fully recover from a gunshot wound to the leg, though his return timeline remains uncertain, according to coach Eli Drinkwitz. Hardy was shot in the upper leg on May 10 while attending an outdoor concert in Laurel, Mississippi.

Drinkwitz stated that Hardy is "on the road to recovery" and has healed from the bullet that struck a bone in his leg. The coach indicated that the return-to-play protocol could range from five to eight weeks, but there are no guarantees on when Hardy will be back or how effectively he will perform. "We still don't know what his recovery will be; is he the same Ahmad Hardy that was last year?" Drinkwitz questioned at SEC media days.

Hardy was a standout player last season, finishing second in FBS with 1,649 rushing yards and scoring 16 touchdowns, contributing to the Tigers' 8-5 record. Drinkwitz believes the incident has provided Hardy with a new perspective on life and his responsibilities as a father and teammate, expressing pride in his recovery efforts and anticipating his journey from the hospital to the end zone.