Mizzou OT Cayden Green on Track to Play Against Kansas, Hardy's Return Timeline Unclear, Per Reports

After missing Missouri's Week 1 contest against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with an undisclosed leg injury, offensive tackle Cayden Green returned to practice and is on track to play against Kansas on Friday, per Pete Thamel.

Missouri is set to take on the Jayhawks at 7 p.m. Friday in Lawrence, Kansas. The game will be the last between the two teams until the 2031 season, when the Jayhawks will return to Columbia, followed by a rematch in Lawrence in 2032. Both Missouri and Kansas are 1-0 this season, having blown out FCS opponents in Week 1.

Green, a preseason All-SEC honoree, a first-team All-SEC honoree from a season ago and Missouri's starting left tackle, is a key piece to the Tigers' offense. Green started 11 games at left tackle in 2025, missing contests against South Carolina and UMass with injury but performing admirably when on the field.

"He's going to do whatever he can for this team to make it back into play," center Dominick Giudice said. "So we're excited for that news and it makes a big difference just because how vocal he is as a guy. Even when he's not out there, he's just vocal always correcting guys, holding guys accountable."

Sophomore Jack Lange started at left tackle in Green's absence in Week 1, posting a pass-blocking grade of 87 and run-blocking grade of 54.8, per Pro Football Focus. Veteran backup Whit Hafer also played 33 snaps at the position against the Golden Lions.

Ahmad Hardy's Timeline Unclear

Superstar running back Ahmad Hardy has not practiced for Missouri yet, and his timeline to return remains unclear, per Thamel. Hardy suffered a gunshot wound to his upper leg May 10 and had surgery in the hours following. He has been on the road to recovery since.

Drinkwitz said this of Hardy's recovery on Aug. 22.

"I'm targeting as soon as possible. I just know that right now we needed a full two-week ramp up period of practice before we would have allowed him to play in the game and that time frame has passed," Drinkwitz said. "So does that mean mid-September? I don't know. Does it mean mid-October? I don't know. I need a two-week, fully invested, being able to practice at full speed (sample) before we would consider playing him in game and I'm not there yet."

"We we just want to get him out to a practice and then go from there, but we're not there yet," Drinkwitz said Tuesday.

This story will be updated as more information is learned.

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