Drinkwitz: Hardy's body 'just not ready yet' after gunshot wound

Eli Drinkwitz said Ahmad Hardy’s body is “just not ready yet” as the Missouri running back continues his recovery from a gunshot wound suffered in the offseason, according to a report by Sydney Hunte on www.saturdaydownsouth.com.

“When you’re trying to be the best running back in the country, and that’s what you were previously, it’s a lot of work and time to get back there,” Drinkwitz said.

Hardy remains off the field as he works his way back, and the Tigers head coach offered no timeline for his return. No specific return date has been confirmed.

“And if that’s in a couple weeks, great. And if it’s not, it’s not,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s nobody that can control it.”

The update leaves Missouri’s backfield situation clear for now: Hardy will not play in Week 6 against Texas A&M on Saturday.

HARDY'S RECOVERY AND TEAM'S ROLE

Hardy’s recovery from a gunshot wound in the offseason continues to keep him off the field, and the exact nature or date of that injury has not been specified in the report. Drinkwitz made clear the team is not pressing the issue.

“When he’s ready, he’s ready, and our job as a team is to do the very best we can until he’s ready to go,” Drinkwitz said.

The coach added, “There’s nobody that can control it.”