GLENDALE - Jeremiyah Love isn’t interested in watching from the sideline when the Arizona Cardinals open preseason play.
That’s usually the route teams take with their biggest investments, especially when there’s a long regular season ahead. But Love, the Cardinals’ third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and the owner of a league-leading $53 million in guaranteed money before ever taking an NFL snap, made it clear Friday that he wants on the field.
“They ain't got to tell me, I'm gonna go play whether you - You ain't gonna tell me I ain't gonna go play. I'm gonna go out there and play.
You try keep on the sideline? Nah, I'm gonna go play,” Love said with a chuckle during his Friday press conference.
Love said he wants the live reps and the chance to feel the game speed against another opponent.
“I want to hit. Get my feet in the ground.
Actually play against another team. Like I need to go out there and play.
I think it's very important for my development as a rookie and as an NFL player to make sure I go out there and play in a preseason game, or do whatever coach needs me to do.”
The Cardinals are headed to Canton, OH in just under a week for the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, part of a weekend that also includes Larry Fitzgerald’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Arizona has four preseason games ahead of the regular season, and if Love does play, it may be only for a drive or two before the team shuts him down.
Still, the rookie sounds eager for the chance.
“I'm excited to just play in the game. It's not like an in-season game, but it's a preseason game.
So I get to go out there and showcase some of my skills, so I'm excited about that. And then also Larry [Fitzgerald] being inducted into the Hall of Fame, like that's just a huge honor,” Love continued.
“Just being able to play in the Hall of Fame game. Like we get to celebrate one of our own. So I'm gonna take a lot of pride in going out there and putting my best foot forward and make sure I compete to honor Larry.”
Love has already made a strong first impression in Arizona, giving the offense a jolt as a true playmaker with the kind of ability that changes things when the ball finds him.
He also said the adjustment to his new team has gone smoothly.
“I've been able to bond with my teammates, my coaches, and just the people around the Cardinals organization. They've welcomed me with open arms, and this is my new home,” Love continued.
“I got my little offensive notebook every day right on the front [it says], 'Arizona Cardinals.' This is my new beginning.
This is my new home. So I look at that every day to remind myself that the past is the past.
I'm here right now with the Arizona Cardinals. Make sure I'm building bonds with my teammates, coaches, and all that type of stuff.
And it's been great so far. I've been having a great time with those guys.”
In Other News...
Cardinals Depth Chart Just Raised Some Early Questions Fans Will Notice
Arizonas first preseason depth chart for 2026 offers an early snapshot of how the roster is lining up before the opener against the Carolina Panthers, and it immediately gives fans a few spots to watch. The card at quarterback is straightforward enough, with Jacoby Brissett on top of the room and Carson Beck listed as a developing third option, while the rest of the chart maps out the early pecking order across offense and defense as the team starts sorting out roles.
There are also a few places where the competition looks far from settled, especially along the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. Those are the kinds of spots that can change quickly once preseason snaps start piling up, and Arizona's first look suggests the coaching staff still has some decisions to make before the picture around the starting group comes fully into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Get An Early Look At Two Rookies Who Could Matter Fast
The preseason is here at last, and for Arizona it arrives with an especially useful first look. The Hall of Fame Game against Carolina will put the Cardinals on the field before the rest of the league, and it also gives the staff a chance to see how a cluster of rookies handles live NFL reps for the first time. Among the names worth watching are Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, David Bailey and Carson Beck, all of whom enter camp with different paths, different roles and a chance to make an early impression.
Love and Beck stand out for Arizona because the Cardinals used meaningful draft capital on both, hoping to add young talent that can matter sooner rather than later. Preseason opener or not, these are the kinds of snaps that can shape a rookies standing quickly, especially when a team is trying to balance long-term planning with immediate competition at key spots. The next step is less about the buzz of draft night and more about how those two fit when the pads come on for real. [Read more 🡒]
Walter Nolens Camp Setback Creates An Early Cardinals Concern
Training camp had barely shifted into full contact work when Walter Nolen gave the Cardinals an early scare. The first-round pick went down with a left leg injury on the opening day of padded practice, then hobbled off the field and never made it back into the session, a reminder of how quickly the tone can change once the pads come on in Arizona.
The concern now is less about the moment than the unknowns around it. Nolen was hurt during 11-on-11 drills, and the team still has not offered any clarity on the exact nature or severity of the injury, leaving his status to be addressed after head coach Mike LaFleurs planned press conference. For a player expected to factor prominently into the Cardinals plans, even an early camp setback carries real weight. [Read more 🡒]