Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals’ highly touted third overall pick, is officially sidelined for at least a week after his ankle injury proved “a little more sore” than initially believed. What started as an in-game tweak during their preseason clash against the Raiders has escalated, leaving Arizona’s coaching staff and fans sweating a bit more than they’d like in August.
The “Could’ve Returned” That Became a Setback
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur initially downplayed Love’s injury, telling reporters on Thursday night that the rookie running back “could have returned” to the game. Man, that comment feels like a lifetime ago now. Fast forward to Saturday morning, and LaFleur had to walk that back, confirming Love’s ankle is indeed “a little more sore.” This isn’t just a minor bump then; it’s enough to keep him out of at least a week of work. That means Love will definitely miss the next preseason game against the Cowboys this coming Saturday. For a rookie making his way, every snap in preseason counts, and losing a full week is a real gut punch.
Uncertainty Mounts For the Rookie Backfield
The implications for the Cardinals’ running back depth chart are already getting interesting. Coach LaFleur flat out would not commit to Love’s return even for the team’s third preseason game, saying they will “re-evaluate the third overall pick’s status down the line.” That’s never what you want to hear about a high-drafted rookie this early. With Love out, it means more reps for the other backs on the roster. Guys like Tyler Allgeier, James Connor, Trey Benson, Bam Knight, Evan Hull, and Corey Kiner are all going to get extended looks. This situation gives them a huge chance to prove their worth, but it also piles more pressure on a backfield that just lost its biggest potential star for the foreseeable future.
The Cardinals have to hope “at least a week” doesn’t turn into “weeks.” They’ll be re-evaluating Love’s status, and every update will be under a microscope. Arizona needs their third overall pick healthy and ready for the season, but right now, they are just hoping he can get back on the field for their third preseason outing.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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