Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is battling a high ankle sprain that will likely keep him out of the team's final two preseason games, ESPN is reporting. The injury, which Cardinals coach Matt LaFleur declined to specify on Sunday, Aug. 16, could put Love's status for Week 1 in question. "It's an ankle, so we'll keep it at that," LaFleur told reporters. The Cardinals took Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft and he was impressive in his preseason debut on Aug. 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders, gaining 72 total yards on 14 touches.
The fact that Love played 27 snaps against the Raiders raised eyebrows for many NFL observers, but LaFleur defended the workload. "It's a rookie that hadn't played," LaFleur said. "Not to share too many secrets 'cause I haven't said it with the players yet, knowing that it was what it was going to be, in terms of how many games these guys were gonna play, for what we were looking for. So that's what the thought was."
The Cardinals have already lost the second-round draft pick, offensive lineman Chase Bisontis, and fourth-round pick, defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor, for the season with knee injuries. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cardinals' Jeremiyah Love sidelined by ankle sprain, per report