Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick from Notre Dame, is officially headed to injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. This isn’t just a minor setback, folks, it immediately takes one of Arizona’s top offensive players off the field for at least the next four weeks. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the news, and the initial word is Love could be out for four to five weeks. This isn’t even the same ankle sprain Love was battling earlier this season, which just adds insult to injury, right?
Love’s Impact on Hold
Before this latest hit, Love was absolutely trying to prove why he was the No. 3 overall selection. In just six games, he had already rushed for 268 yards and a touchdown on 76 carries. He wasn’t just a ground threat either, grabbing 11 passes for 36 yards and another score. Losing that kind of versatile production, especially from a guy who was just starting to really find his rhythm, is a massive blow. You hate to see a young player have to deal with multiple ankle issues so early in his career, and it leaves a huge hole in the offense that someone else is going to have to try and fill.
Arizona’s Running Back Room Is Officially Thin
Love’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Arizona, who are suddenly looking incredibly vulnerable at running back. To make matters worse, Bam Knight also suffered a concussion during Sunday’s win over the Cowboys, leaving the backfield alarmingly thin. Lucky for them, Tyler Allgeier went off against Dallas, rushing for an incredible 147 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. That’s a huge performance to hang your hat on, but it’s going to be a heavy load if he has to carry the run game by himself. Beyond Allgeier, Evan Hull is currently on the 53-man roster, and Jerome Ford is on the practice squad. They’re going to need both of those guys ready to roll, because the depth situation just got real shaky, real fast.
With Love sidelined for at least a month, the pressure is on Allgeier to prove that Sunday’s monster game wasn’t a fluke. The Cardinals desperately need consistent production from their remaining backs, or their entire offensive game plan might need a serious overhaul. It’s a tough stretch ahead for that running back room, and every carry, every catch, and every block from here on out is going to matter.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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