Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals’ electric No. 3 overall pick, hasn’t seen the field since his high ankle sprain in August, but head coach Mike LaFleur just dropped three words that give Arizona fans some serious hope for his Week 1 debut. LaFleur, talking Monday, said he “feels good” about Love suiting up this Sunday against the Chargers, despite the rookie running back not having practiced since his injury. The team’s first official injury report isn’t due until Wednesday, but hearing the head coach’s optimism is a massive development for a player drafted to instantly ignite a struggling offense.
Preseason Promise Cut Short
Love went down awkwardly during a preseason win against the Las Vegas Raiders. He’d just made a catch near the goal line, and the tackle on that play caused the high ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined. Before the injury, Love was already flashing potential, playing 23 snaps and racking up 58 rushing yards on 11 carries. That kind of production from a rookie in limited action, before the regular season even kicked off, made the injury a tough pill to swallow for Cardinals fans. But seeing him “moving around” during Monday’s walk-through and hearing LaFleur’s confident tone suggests that progress is real.
From Heisman Contender to NFL Starter?
This kid is special, no doubt. The Cardinals drafted Love out of Notre Dame after he put up a staggering 1,372 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns in his final season with the Fighting Irish, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy race. After the Cardinals went a dismal 3-14 last season, landing a talent like Love at No. 3 overall was supposed to be a cornerstone moment. His immediate impact is crucial, especially with Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight as the other two running backs on the 53-man roster. This isn’t just about one game; it’s about setting the tone for a new era in Arizona.
The Cardinals open their 2026 campaign against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon. While the final decision on Love’s status hasn’t been made, the optimism from LaFleur is a huge sign. It doesn’t sound like a return is far off, even if he can’t go full throttle this weekend. Keep an eye on that injury report Wednesday; it’s going to tell us everything about whether the No. 3 pick makes his highly anticipated debut.
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