Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is moving closer to a Week 1 return from the high-ankle sprain that has sidelined him since mid-August, and head coach Mike LaFleur said Monday that he feels good about Love’s chances of playing against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Love was able to do some movement work during Arizona’s Monday walk-through, according to LaFleur. The coach stopped short of declaring him ready and pointed toward Wednesday’s first official injury report as the next meaningful checkpoint.
That is a notable improvement from the uncertainty surrounding Love over the past several weeks. The No. 3 overall pick has not practiced or played since suffering the injury in an Aug. 13 preseason game against the Raiders.
What changed with Jeremiyah Love’s Week 1 status
The biggest change is the tone. Earlier in the recovery, Love was described as a player the Cardinals hoped to have back for Week 1. On Monday, LaFleur said Love was progressing, had been moving around and that he felt good about the rookie’s chances of playing.
That still does not amount to a guarantee. High-ankle sprains can linger, and the first official participation designation will not arrive until Wednesday. But the update moves Love from a broad recovery timetable into a legitimate game-week evaluation.
The Cardinals have reason to be cautious. Love is expected to be a central part of the offense this season, and there is little value in forcing him into a full workload in September if the ankle is not ready for NFL game speed.
Why Love’s return matters for Arizona
Arizona used the third overall pick on Love because of his explosiveness, receiving ability and potential to become an every-down offensive centerpiece. His only preseason appearance showed why the Cardinals were comfortable making that investment.
Love handled 14 touches for 73 yards in the first half against Las Vegas before the ankle injury. He showed burst through the line, balance after contact and the ability to contribute as a receiver.
Those traits can change how Arizona attacks Los Angeles. A healthy Love gives the Cardinals a back capable of creating explosive gains without requiring perfectly blocked runs, and he adds another player defenses must account for in the passing game.
What a realistic Week 1 workload could look like
Even if Love is active, a normal lead-back workload should not be assumed. The more realistic question is whether Arizona will use him as part of a rotation while he completes the transition back to full football speed.
Tyler Allgeier gives the Cardinals a proven option to absorb early-down work and short-yardage carries. That depth allows Arizona to keep Love active without immediately asking him to handle 20-plus touches.
A limited but meaningful role could include outside runs, selected passing-down work and scripted touches designed to get Love in space. The Cardinals can then adjust based on how the ankle responds during the game.
If Love is ruled out, Allgeier would be positioned for the clearest increase in volume.
Why Wednesday’s injury report matters so much
Monday was a walk-through and Arizona was not yet required to issue an official practice report. That makes Wednesday the first day fans will get the league’s formal designation for Love: full participant, limited participant or did not participate.
A limited designation would confirm that he has returned to football work but still has restrictions. A full practice would be the strongest sign yet that he is ready for the opener. Another absence would keep his status uncertain despite LaFleur’s optimism.
Because the injury is a high-ankle sprain, practice quality may matter as much as practice quantity. The key is whether Love can accelerate, cut and absorb force through the ankle without a setback.
The Chargers matchup raises the stakes
Week 1 against Los Angeles gives Arizona a difficult opening test. The Cardinals will want to keep the offense balanced and avoid putting too much of the game on the quarterback against a defense that can create pressure and play fast on the edges.
Love’s presence would give LaFleur more options. Arizona could use motion, screens and outside-zone concepts to force the Chargers to defend the entire width of the field. It would also give the offense another explosive-play threat on early downs.
If he is limited, the Cardinals can still use him selectively while leaning on Allgeier for the heavier physical work.
Why Arizona should resist rushing its rookie
The long-term value of Love is much larger than one September game. High-ankle sprains can become recurring problems when players return before they regain full stability and mobility.
Arizona also does not need to make the Week 1 decision in isolation. The Cardinals drafted Love to be a foundational offensive player over multiple seasons. Protecting that investment is more important than maximizing his snap count in the opener.
The best-case outcome is not simply that Love is active. It is that he can play without compensating, recover normally afterward and build toward a larger role in the weeks that follow.
What to watch next
Wednesday’s practice report is the first checkpoint. Thursday will show whether Love can stack another day of work, and Friday’s final status will provide the clearest indication of whether Arizona expects him to play.
For now, the direction is positive. Love is moving again, LaFleur is expressing optimism and the rookie has a legitimate path to being available for his NFL regular-season debut.
For the latest Week 1 injury updates, follow FSN’s NFL coverage.