The Arizona Cardinals are set to get a better read on their most intriguing rookie just in time for Week 1. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Jeremiyah Love will be “ready to roll” in practice Wednesday, according to Donnie Druin of the Arizona Cardinals on SI.
That update matters more than a standard practice note because Love came into the league with top-three expectations. Arizona used the No. 3 overall pick on a running back they clearly view as more than just another body in the backfield. The belief inside the organization is that his speed, explosiveness and big-play juice can eventually turn him into a centerpiece on offense.
Now the focus shifts from draft-day excitement to the more practical question of what Love looks like on the field. His return gives the Cardinals a chance to watch how he moves, cuts and absorbs contact after the injury that kept him out.
The issue isn’t simply whether he can take part in practice. It’s whether he can put together good work without another setback.
There’s also no need to rush everything onto his shoulders right away. James Conner and Tyler Allgeier give Arizona proven options, which means Love doesn’t have to carry the load from day one. The Cardinals can ease him in and figure out how much he can handle as they go.
For Arizona, that’s the real win here: Love is back on the field, and the team can finally start measuring whether the rookie who arrived with so much hype is ready to begin looking like the player they drafted him to be.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Depth Question Fans Can't Ignore
With the regular-season opener getting closer, the Cardinals spent part of the week taking a long look at six tryout players, a group that included four offensive linemen and two cornerbacks. Austin Deculus, Corey Robinson, Colby Sorsdal, Aamil Wagner, Art Green and Jerrick Reed all got a chance to show what they can offer as Arizona continues sorting through the back end of the roster.
The positions alone tell the story here. Arizona is clearly keeping an eye on depth in the trenches and in the secondary, and any move that follows could end up pointing back to injuries already affecting the roster. Practice squad additions remain a possibility, but for now the Cardinals are still in evaluation mode with a few spots worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Could Become A Cardinals Pivot Point Fast
The edge-rusher market could get busy before the trade deadline, and Josh Sweat has already surfaced as a name to watch. For Arizona, that alone says plenty about where the veteran pass rusher stands in the bigger picture: he is valuable enough to draw outside attention, even as the Cardinals sort through what kind of season they are really building toward.
Chicago's reported interest adds another layer, especially with the Bears looking for help up front and a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick mentioned as a possible framework. The Cardinals are not believed to be shopping Sweat right now, but that stance could be tested if their competitive outlook shifts, which is why his status feels like a potential pivot point in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Brutal 2026 Test Few Believe They Can Beat
The Cardinals enter 2026 with a forecast that is as bleak as it is revealing, because ESPNs Football Power Index sees a team stuck near five wins and fighting uphill from the opening week. A new head coach brings a fresh voice, but much of the roster remains in place and the defense is still being guided by the same coordinator as last season, leaving Arizona to prove that change on the sideline can matter even when the personnel picture looks familiar.
Even more daunting is the path ahead, with Arizona projected as an underdog in every game and forced to navigate one of the leagues tougher divisions. The playoff odds are tiny and the NFC West title chances are even slimmer, which puts the Cardinals in a familiar spot for a franchise trying to reset without fully tearing things down. The challenge now is less about expectation and more about showing there is a workable starting point for something better. [Read more 🡒]