Following the Arizona Cardinals' preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, head coach Mike LaFleur initially downplayed the seriousness of running back Jeremiyah Love's ankle injury, which occurred shortly before halftime. LaFleur indicated that Love could have returned to the game if necessary, suggesting that the injury was not a major concern.
However, on August 15, LaFleur announced that Love would not participate in practice this week and would also miss the upcoming preseason match against the Dallas Cowboys on August 22 at State Farm Stadium. LaFleur noted that Love reported increased soreness since the injury and emphasized the need for him to rest and heal.
LaFleur did not confirm whether Love would be ready for the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13. "Honestly, all I'm focusing on is August 15," LaFleur stated, indicating that they would reassess Love's condition in the following week.
Love's injury comes after a promising preseason debut, where he recorded 11 carries for 58 yards and three receptions for 14 yards. His performance had drawn attention as he was the third overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
LaFleur faced criticism for giving Love a heavy workload, as he played 27 snaps, more than any other starter, but defended the necessity of preseason reps for running backs to adapt to game speed.
In the event that Love is sidelined, Tyler Allgeier is expected to step up as the lead running back. The team also has James Conner, who has been limited in practice due to a previous ankle injury but is expected to be ready for the regular season.
Additionally, Bam Knight is currently positioned as the fourth running back, while Trey Benson remains out due to knee issues, although LaFleur mentioned that Benson is making progress.
