Jeremiyah Love, the Arizona Cardinals’ third overall pick, isn’t practicing this week due to an ailing left ankle, and his status for Sunday’s crucial game against division foe Los Angeles Rams is completely up in the air. This news hits as the Cardinals embark on the toughest stretch of their schedule, desperately needing all their playmakers, especially against a Rams team also in dire need of a win. Love’s absence on the practice field is expected to last all week, leaving everyone guessing about his availability.
A Limping Offense Faces Down a Tough Schedule
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed they’re handling Love’s injury with daily evaluations. Resting that ankle is the priority, so seeing him practice isn’t even on the radar. LaFleur explained after practice, “We all are in agreement as much as he wants to battle through, we’re all in agreement right now, it’s just, hey, just give it a little bit of rest and see as the week goes on what that’ll entail for Sunday.” This means we could be looking at a game-time decision for their star running back, which is exactly what a team starting its “most difficult portion of their schedule” doesn’t need.
The Cardinals rolled out a new offense this year, drawing on LaFleur’s previous stints with the Rams and 49ers, both known for potent schemes. The idea is that Arizona’s offense will eventually catch up, but that requires the right pieces. We’re talking about an “exceptional quarterback” and a “great, not good, offensive line.” Right now, the source makes it clear: both of those elements are missing. How are you supposed to build something special without the foundational components?
Love’s ‘Longest Year’ Confirms Underwhelming Start
Love was brought in with the third overall pick to supercharge this new offense, but so far, he’s just looked “very average.” He’s played in all five games with four starts, churning out 245 yards on 67 carries. That’s a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry average, with just nine first-down conversions and a single touchdown. He’s chipped in the short passing game too, with 11 catches for 36 yards and another score.
But let’s be real, the expectations for a third overall pick are huge. People were talking about him taking the league by storm, becoming an Emmitt Smith or Eric Dickerson type of back for Arizona. That just hasn’t happened. He hasn’t wowed anyone, and he certainly hasn’t hit the big run. His longest run of the year? A measly nine yards. Even when he had 90 rushing yards on 21 carries against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, he never looked like he was about to break one “to the house.” And if you’re wondering about his blocking, well, he wasn’t expected to be a top-tier blocker anyway. Love himself, in what has to be a brutally honest admission, commented, “This is probably gonna be the longest year of my life.” That quote hits even harder when you consider he wasn’t even on the field for the Cardinals’ final 13 snaps of a potential game-winning drive recently.
As the Cardinals prepare for the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday, the question of Jeremiyah Love’s availability looms large. Without him, and with their offense already described as “very average” and missing key elements, they’re facing an uphill battle against a division rival. What does that mean for their season if their highly drafted back can’t get healthy and live up to the hype? This Rams game isn’t just another contest; it feels like a test of just how tough this “longest year” is going to get.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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