A source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo that Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love is "about 50/50" to play Week 1. "Nobody really knows right now," Garafolo added. "They need to see how he progresses over the next week plus."
Cardinals RB James Conner will begin his 10th season on injured reserve, designated to return, per Cardinals beat reporter John Gambadoro. The veteran back will miss at least the first four games to open the 2026 campaign.
Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love is "trending in the right direction" for Week 1, according to 98.7 Phoenix's John Gambadoro. "Needs to keep progressing though," Gambadoro adds. "Still a ways to go but looking positive."
Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur admitted Wednesday that it's "too early to tell" whether RB James Conner will be available for Week 1. Conner continues to work back from last September's season-ending right ankle injury. He's "progressing well," LaFleur added.
It’s been nearly two weeks since Jeremiyah Love suffered what the Cardinals were reluctant to call a high-ankle sprain. Cardinals beat writer Theo Mackie reported that Love was doing ankle agility work with trainers ahead of the team’s joint practice with the Packers today.
The news keeps getting worse for Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the rookie has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. "It makes it unlikely that Love plays again this preseason, with the team hoping he can return for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener vs the Chargers," Schefter adds.
Just one day after Mike LaFleur said that Jeremiyah Love’s ankle is a “little bit more sore than we were anticipating,” the Cardinals head coach refused to say whether Love had a high ankle sprain per Cardinals beat writer Theo Mackie.
Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur said Saturday that RB Jeremiyah Love's ankle is a "little bit more sore than we were anticipating." LaFleur downplayed the injury after Thursday night's preseason opener, but he sounded less optimistic Saturday and even sidestepped questions about Love's availability for the season opener.
RB Jeremiyah Love got his first preseason action Thursday night in the Cardinals' second exhibition, and they worked him like a lead back against the Raiders. The third overall pick racked up 14 first-half touches: 11 carries for 58 yards (5.3 per rush) and 3 receptions for 14 yards on three targets. Love also came away from the game with a minor ankle injury, but it appears we don't need to worry about that.
Jeremiyah Love is among the players who will not play in Thursday’s Hall of Fame game per Cardinals’ HC Mike LaFleur
SI's Albert Breer visited Cardinals training camp this week and says that you might want to temper your expectations for rookie RB Jeremiyah Love's workload.
Arizona showed us what it thinks of RB Jeremiyah Love’s talent by drafting him third overall this spring, to a team with plenty of needs. But coaches aren’t doing anything to anoint him an immediate backfield leader at the start of camp. Free-agent addition Tyler Allgeier reportedly opened with the starters at the team’s first open practice, and OC Nathaniel Hackett mentioned James Conner first when asked broadly about the outlook for his 2026 backfield.
The Cardinals selected RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. He's the first RB selected in the top 5 since Saquon Barkley in 2018. Love dominated as a two-year starter at Notre Dame, averaging 6.9 yards per carry over that span. He also led the FBS with 40 total TDs. The 212-pounder was the clear RB1 in this class. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Love ranked fourth in 2025 rushing market share (55.9%) and first in yards after contact per attempt (4.5). He ranked second in 2025 in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.28) and third in receiving yards per route run (1.83).
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