The Arizona Cardinals did not expect their top rookie to spend the final weeks of the preseason watching from the sideline. Jeremiyah Love’s first NFL appearance ended earlier than planned, leaving his status for the regular-season opener as a question heading into September.
The Cardinals have avoided rushing his recovery, but the clock is moving toward Week 1. This makes Love’s next steps especially important for a team counting on him in the backfield.
Jeremiyah Love Injury Update Ahead of Cardinals’ Week 1 Opener
Love suffered a high ankle sprain during Arizona’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 13. The No. 3 overall pick had already shown his ability to make plays before leaving the game, rushing 11 times for 58 yards and catching three passes for 14 yards.
The injury does not require surgery, according to coach Mike LaFleur, giving Love a path toward returning before the Cardinals open the regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13. Arizona has kept him out since the injury, including the preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers, while he focuses on rehabilitation.
Love has made progress in recent weeks and has moved into the next phase of his recovery. He has worked with trainers on light, straight-line agility exercises, but has not yet returned to full team work.
More demanding movements, particularly cutting and changing direction, will be important tests before the Cardinals can determine whether he is ready.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
The timing gives Love almost a month between the injury and the regular-season opener. High ankle sprains can take two to six weeks to recover from, so his progress over the next several days will be important.
According to several media reports, he is trending toward a possible Week 1 return, but the Cardinals have not treated that outcome as guaranteed.
If Love cannot play, or if Arizona limits his workload, Tyler Allgeier could handle a larger share of the workload. James Conner’s recovery from a foot injury also adds another factor to Arizona’s backfield plans.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
The Cardinals selected Love after a standout career at Notre Dame, where he won the 2025 Doak Walker Award.
His college numbers included 2,497 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, and a 6.9-yard average per carry. He also contributed 55 receptions for 517 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Arizona ranked outside the top 20 in PFN NFL Offense Impact for 2025, and they are looking to improve in that category after giving Love a four-year, $53 million rookie contract. The deal includes the most guaranteed money ever given to a rookie running back, highlighting the expectations surrounding his arrival.
For now, Love remains in the race to make his NFL debut in Week 1. The Cardinals will have to see him progress from straight-line work to full-speed football movements before making that call.
