Jeremiyah Love isn’t backing off.
As the Cardinals prepare for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season, the rookie running back made it clear Thursday that his ankle issue isn’t changing his mindset. Love, who opened his pro career with Arizona after a standout run at Notre Dame, said he’s ready to keep rolling as long as he’s on the field.
“I didn’t feel limited by my ankle…. just got to be mindful of where my body is,” Love told the media, per Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. “Heading into this next week, it’s all gas no brakes.
If I’m on the field, I’m going. Whether my ankle is going to fall off, I’m on the field I got to do my job.”
That message comes after Love showed plenty in his debut against the Los Angeles Chargers. The third overall pick logged 11 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, while also adding two catches for nine yards. He did deal with ankle pain after the game, but his update suggested he’s moving in the right direction.
For Arizona, the early signs are encouraging. The Cardinals are coming off a surprising 26-14 win over the Chargers, and Love looks positioned to be one of the central pieces in the offense going forward. Trey McBride is expected to be part of that mix as well, as the team continues building around Jacoby Brissett after moving on from Kyler Murray, who went to the Minnesota Vikings this past offseason.
The next test is a big one. Arizona heads into a Week 2 matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks on Sept. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Bring A Very Different Week 2 Test For Cardinals
The first injury report of the week handed the Cardinals a very different kind of picture heading into their trip to Seattle. The Seahawks ruled Sam Darnold out of the home opener because of a glute injury, which means Drew Lock is set to take over at quarterback, and the rest of the report also starts to sketch out the availability of several players from both sides.
For Arizona, that kind of change matters because Week 2 already carries the usual early-season uncertainty, and now the opponents offensive plans will look different before the teams have even lined up. The practice participation updates for both clubs will keep drawing attention as the week goes on, but the biggest shift so far is simple: the Cardinals are preparing for a Seahawks team with a new face under center. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiyah Love Just Gave Cardinals Fans Another Reason To Hate Sunday's Rival
Ahead of Sundays matchup, Jeremiyah Love found himself in an unusual spot for a young Cardinals back, talking about a friend while helping prepare for a rival. Love and Seahawks running back Jadarian Price were teammates at Notre Dame, and Love said he has been passing along what he knows about Prices style as Arizona gets ready for a division game that already carries enough edge.
Love made clear where his loyalty sits, even with the friendship intact. He said he is excited for the challenge of competing against Price and for catching up afterward, but for Cardinals fans the part that matters most is simpler: one of their own is trying to make sure the defense has every possible clue before Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Get An Early Reality Check Against A Rival They Need To Solve
The Cardinals get an early look at one of the leagues most stubborn problems Sunday, and it comes against a Seahawks team that has turned this NFC West series into a long-running headache. Seattle brings an 11-game winning streak into the matchup, including nine straight over Arizona in the division rivalry, a reminder that the bar in the West is still set by a team the Cardinals have not solved in a while.
There is reason to think Arizona is at least heading in a better direction under new coach Mike LaFleur after last weeks 26-14 win over the Chargers, a result that suggested the group is no longer carrying the same weight it did a year ago. But Seattle has been winning in different ways, too, including a close call against the Patriots without starting quarterback Sam Darnold, which only adds to the challenge for a Cardinals team trying to show its progress is more than a good one-week answer. [Read more 🡒]