Jeremiyah Love’s first preseason action for the Cardinals came with plenty to like and one uneasy note at the end.
The rookie running back made his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night after sitting out Arizona’s Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 6. He looked comfortable from the jump, but he also left Allegiant Stadium dealing with an ankle injury, according to first-year head coach Mike LaFleur.
Per Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports, LaFleur said after Arizona’s 27-14 win that he does not believe the injury is serious.
"I would think (he would practice this week) based off of our conversations, but you never know. It’s like one of those things where maybe tomorrow it’s a little more sore than the next," LaFleur said about Love's injury.
Arizona’s next preseason game is at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 22, and Love may not be back on the field for that one unless he’s fully healthy by then.
Before the injury scare, though, Love gave the Cardinals exactly the kind of glimpse they wanted. He finished with 58 rushing yards on 11 carries and added three catches for 14 yards. The workload even caught him off guard.
"I didn't (expect it)," Love said. "But you know, ball is ball. I welcome it."
He also felt like he was just starting to settle in.
"I kind of got into a little bit of a groove," Love said about his performance against the Raiders, per Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' website. "Kind of wish I would have played just a tad bit longer, but I think I played enough for people to see."
If Love is back to full strength, the Cardinals should be looking for him early and often when the regular season opens at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.
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Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew each helped drive the offense with touchdown passes, giving the Cardinals a more confident rhythm under center. The only cloud came when rookie Chase Bisontis left with an apparent knee injury, a reminder that even on a night of progress, the roster picture can change quickly and the line depth remains a point worth watching. [Read more 🡒]