Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur offered a cautious update on rookie running back Jeremiyah Love after his preseason injury.
Love suffered an ankle injury during his NFL preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. The No. 3 overall pick finished the game with 72 total yards on 14 touches before leaving after his final play.
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When LaFleur was asked whether Love had been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, the coach avoided confirming the diagnosis.
“It’s an ankle, so we’ll keep it at that,” LaFleur said.
That response leaves uncertainty around Love’s timeline, especially with the regular season approaching. The Cardinals open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13.
Physical therapy doctor Jeff Mueller believes the injury could involve a high ankle sprain.
“Concern for Left High Ankle sprain on his last touch,” Mueller wrote. He added that the injury “sounded like on the mild side,” but said Arizona must monitor Love over the next few weeks.
Physical therapist Matthew Betz offered a similar assessment. He noted the tackle mechanism was “consistent with medial/high ankle sprain,” while pointing to other clues from LaFleur.
Jeremiyah Love’s injury adds pressure to Cardinals’ rookie class
In the same post, Betz noted that Love “could have returned” but became more sore the following day. He explained that mild to moderate high ankle sprains often become more painful 24 to 36 hours after the injury.
Betz believes Love could miss multiple weeks of training camp but does not see a reason for panic. He would consider the rookie questionable for Week 1.
“4 weeks til start of season so no need to panic, but very likely Love misses multiple weeks of camp. Would consider him Q for Wk 1,” Betz wrote on X.
That timeline matters because Love was expected to become a major part of Arizona’s rebuilt offense. The Cardinals selected him third overall after his standout Notre Dame career and gave him a four-year, $53 million contract.
Veteran Tyler Allgeier could handle more work while Love recovers. That gives Arizona insurance, but Love’s explosiveness remains difficult to replace.
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The injury also highlights an early concern for the Cardinals. Their first four draft picks are currently dealing with injuries, including Chase Bisontis, Carson Beck and Kaleb Proctor.
For a team rebuilding after a 3-14 season, keeping its young core healthy will remain critical. Love’s next few weeks could determine whether Arizona has its prized rookie available when the games begin.
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