Arizona Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love is showing encouraging signs as the season opener gets closer, but there’s still work left before anyone can call him ready.
Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain, and the team is hoping he can be available when the Cardinals open the season in Week 1 two weeks from now. That outlook got a boost from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro, who said Love is “trending in the right direction.” He added that Love “needs to keep progressing,” but that things are “looking positive.”
The injury happened in Arizona’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, where Love had 11 carries and three receptions before going down.
His status matters even more because the Cardinals are already navigating some uncertainty in the backfield. James Conner’s recovery from the ankle injury he suffered last season has been slow, which has left the otherwise deep running back room a little less settled.
Drafted third overall, Love comes with big expectations, and Arizona is counting on him to be the featured back. The Cardinals did add Tyler Allgeier this offseason, but Love is still expected to be the team’s showcased running back.
The key now is whether he can get all the way back in time. Ankle injuries can linger, and because this happened in the only preseason game he played, the Cardinals will be hoping it doesn’t spill into his rookie season.
More clarity should come during the week before the opener, when the Cardinals begin releasing injury reports from Wednesday through Friday.
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