No. 3 Overall Pick Jeremiyah Love Is Out for the Hall of Fame Game, and the Cardinals Are Already Guarding Their Investment

The Arizona Cardinals are rolling into Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game without their No. 3 overall pick, running back Jeremiyah Love. Head coach Mike LaFleur just told reporters that the rookie won’t suit up, and it’s already setting the tone for how this team plans to handle their big investment.

It’s clear the Cardinals are playing it smart with Love. Reports from training camp have been nothing but good, with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett raving about how explosive the running back is. Love absolutely shredded at Notre Dame last season, finishing third in Heisman voting. He played 12 games, racking up 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries. The guy can clearly handle a heavy workload, but as a No. 3 overall pick, the Cardinals aren’t taking any chances. They want to manage his workload, and that starts by resting him for this first preseason game. This decision makes that running back room even more interesting, especially with free agent Tyler Allgeier already signed to a two-year deal before the draft. Plus, James Conner and Trey Benson are still there, both coming back from season-ending injuries last year, so it’s a suddenly deep crew.

While Love sits, another important rookie is stepping up. Third-round selection Carson Beck will be starting at quarterback for Arizona. Veteran Jacoby Brissett is also getting the night off, so Beck is gonna get a ton of reps to show what he’s got. Gardner Minshew III and Kedon Slovis are also on the roster, as the Cardinals try to figure out who’s gonna back up Brissett for the season.

This Hall of Fame Game is a bonus, giving the Cardinals an extra preseason look at their roster. While we won’t see Love unleash his explosiveness on Thursday, the spotlight will definitely be on Carson Beck as he tries to stake his claim. The Cardinals have big decisions coming, especially with that loaded running back room and the backup QB battle heating up. It’s going to be a fascinating preseason to watch how they manage their assets.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.