Arizona Cardinals’ Jeremiah Love Expected to Miss Time with Ankle Injury

The Arizona Cardinals will be without their third overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft for at least a week. Head coach Mike LaFleur announced on Saturday that running back Jeremiah Love sustained an ankle injury during Thursday’s preseason match against the Las Vegas Raiders. He reportedly came into the facility feeling sore on Friday, which was a bit surprising since he didn’t seem too concerned after the game.

“He was in great spirits on Friday,” LaFleur mentioned. “However, we’re going to sit him out this week while he recovers. It seems the injury was a bit more painful than I first thought.”

When asked about how Love’s injury might impact his availability for Week 1, LaFleur didn’t provide details beyond Saturday’s practice. “We’ll evaluate him this week. Right now, our focus is on practice on August 15. We’ll see how things go moving forward, but he definitely won’t play this week,” he stated.

Love won’t be joining the team for their upcoming preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys next Saturday. In the Cardinals’ first preseason outing, he had 11 carries for 58 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards.

With Love sidelined, Tyler Allgaier will step up as the starter, supported by Bum Knight and Corey Kiner. Veteran James Conner is still recovering from a right foot injury that kept him out for 14 games last season and hasn’t participated in 11-on-11 practice yet.

Sadly, Love isn’t the only rookie dealing with injuries. Second-round pick Chase Visontis, who was in the running for the starting right guard position, has torn the MCL in his left knee.

LaFleur indicated that Visontis would be placed on injured reserve, marking a significant setback for the Cardinals’ offensive line. He is expected to undergo surgery on his knee.

“He’s going to be out for a considerable time, possibly the entire season,” LaFleur said. “It’s a tough break. We always prioritize the players’ well-being.”