The Cardinals’ feel-good win over the Rams may have come with a familiar catch: Jeremiyah Love still wasn’t back on the field when the week began.
Arizona pulled out an 18-16 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday, a result that stood out even more because the Cardinals did it without one of their best players. Love missed the game because of an ankle injury suffered the week before, and his absence was felt again on Wednesday when he did not practice.
That puts his Week 7 status in real doubt as the Cardinals prepare for a much tougher matchup with the Denver Broncos.
Without Love, Arizona leaned on Zonovan Knight and Tyler Allegier in the backfield. Allegier had a quiet afternoon, finishing with 38 yards on 10 carries, while Knight delivered the bigger punch. Nicknamed “Bam,” he ran for 80 yards on 15 carries and repeatedly found room with chunk plays that helped the Cardinals stay on schedule.
The offense never reached the end zone, but it did collect six field goals and just enough support to edge the Rams. Arizona’s defense helped finish the job against a division rival, but the need for Love remains obvious. He gives the offense a different gear, and the Cardinals are still waiting to see if he can get back on the practice field before the Broncos game.
There are two more days before Love would need to make real progress. If he doesn’t return to practice or is limited in any way, he’s likely headed for a Week 7 absence.
In Other News...
Cardinals Injury Report Raises A Real Week 7 Concern
The first injury reports for the Cardinals and Broncos have already added some uncertainty to Sundays Week 7 matchup at State Farm Stadium. Arizona is tracking a concern with Love, who is dealing with an ankle injury, while Denvers early list also points to possible absences on the other side of the ball. It is the kind of midweek update that can quickly reshape how both staffs approach the game plan.
LaFleur said Love will not be back until he is fully recovered, which puts his status in real doubt for a second straight game. The Broncos, meanwhile, opened the week with key names in Surtain and Hufanga on the report, and LaFleur also had praise for Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and what his defense has done so far. With both teams waiting on more clarity later in the week, the injury picture may end up being as important as anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Depth Chart Shows Where Roster Changes Could Matter Vs Broncos
The Cardinals Week 7 depth chart is in, and it arrives with a few roster tweaks that could ripple through Sundays matchup with the Broncos. Arizona made a handful of moves this week, claiming tackle Albert Reese off waivers, moving on from tight end Shawn Bowman and activating safety Kitan Crawford from injured reserve, all while laying out where players sit on offense, defense and special teams for the upcoming game.
The changes matter because they hint at where the Cardinals are trying to shore up depth without yet spelling out every detail. Reese is now part of a tackle group that includes five players, but his exact place in the pecking order is still unclear, leaving one of the more interesting questions on the roster heading into game day. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Have One Early Trend That Could Shape The NFC Race
Week 7 arrives with the NFC still sorting itself out, and Arizona has already put one early pattern on the board that matters well beyond its own locker room. The Cardinals have mixed strong road form with a rugged defense in the bigger picture around the conference, while the rest of the playoff field keeps bumping into one another in a slate that also includes the Bears hosting the Patriots and the Saints meeting the Steelers in Paris.
For Arizona, the issue is whether the good version can show up often enough to stay in the race. The numbers behind the Cardinals start suggest a team that can look dangerous when it gets things right, but recent results have also exposed a margin for error that is hard to ignore. With the NFC packed tightly and rivals like Seattle and Los Angeles still shaping the conversation, the Cardinals next stretch could tell us whether this is a real trend or just a short-lived September and October burst. [Read more 🡒]