Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick, won’t be hitting the field against the Panthers in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game. Coach Mike LaFleur dropped that bomb Wednesday, officially ruling out the rookie running back from Notre Dame for their preseason opener, and let me tell you, it’s got everyone buzzing about what Arizona’s really doing with their backfield. This ain’t some injury report, folks. Love is healthy, by all indications, and his absence is sparking some serious chatter about big plans for the young standout. It’s a bold move for a team’s top pick, and it’s shaking up the early NFL narrative for the desert birds.
Why the No. 3 Pick Is Sitting Out: It’s All About Big Plans
Look, normally you see these high-drafted rookies out there trying to prove themselves every chance they get. But Love, a guy expected to be a *major* part of the Cardinals’ offense this season, is sitting this one out, even though rookies don’t often sit in the preseason. The team’s expecting to rest a bunch of key starters for the Hall of Fame Game, including starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett. LaFleur’s decision to sideline Love, without an injury, suggests a deeper strategy. The crazy part? LaFleur didn’t even say who’d start at running back Thursday night! This whole situation is wild because it strongly suggests Arizona isn’t worried about Love showing what he can do in a meaningless game. His absence, in fact, “might be the best sign yet” that the Cardinals have massive, immediate plans for him this season. They just don’t want to risk him getting dinged up before the real action starts. Plus, with an extra preseason game on their schedule, they’ll have other opportunities to see him on the field. Good call, if you ask me.
The Cardinals’ RB Room Is a Straight-Up Rollercoaster That Nobody Predicted
Alright, so this is where it gets really, really interesting. The Cards’ first depth chart of training camp *actually* listed Tyler Allgeier as their No. 1 running back. Remember that? Yeah, just a few days ago! That put everyone on notice. Now, with Love sitting out, the speculation is flying faster than a perfectly thrown deep ball. If Allgeier *does* play while other key starters sit, that could be a huge signal that Love is indeed set to be the top guy entering the season, with Allgeier as his primary backup or complement. But if Allgeier *also* sits? Then Arizona clearly sees both Love and Allgeier as vital pieces of its backfield, not worth risking in the preseason opener. It’s a strategic chess match, right? And to make things even crazier, the *projected* depth chart circulating now actually has Jeremiyah Love at No. 1, with Allgeier at No. 2, then veteran James Conner, Trey Benson, Zonovan Knight, and Corey Kiner rounding out the group. Talk about a rapid shift in perception and pecking order!
So, Love isn’t injured, and he’s not ruled out of any *other* preseason games. He’s still gonna get his opportunities to show what he’s got this summer. The real question is: when will we see Love finally unleash his talent on the field, and who’s gonna emerge as Arizona’s undisputed lead back for the regular season? We’ll be watching every snap of this preseason, waiting for the smoke to clear in that Cardinals backfield. This early season battle is going to define their run game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply