Mizzou star Ahmad Hardy to return to practice after offseason gunshot wound injury

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KCTV) - Star Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy is returning to the practice field this week.

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Hardy’s practice status update on Sunday after an off week for the Tigers.

“After consulting with our medical team, Ahmad Hardy will return to practice this week,” Drinkwitz posted Sunday. “Our medical staff will determine his return to game action.”

Hardy’s first practice this season comes after the All-American running back was shot while riding in a car leaving a concert in Mississippi in May.

Drinkwitz has previously said Hardy would need a full two-week practice ramp-up to be available for game action. If that holds true, Hardy would miss Saturday’s SEC game against Arkansas and have the potential to return a Saturday, Nov. 7 game against a highly-ranked Texas team.

Without Hardy, Missouri running back Jamal Roberts has stepped up, rushing for 867 yards and 8 touchdowns through the first seven games of the season.