Cardinals rookie RB Jeremiyah Love dealing with high-ankle sprain as Week 1 availability becomes a question

The Arizona Cardinals’ early-season rotation at running back faces an immediate test after rookie Jeremiyah Love left a Thursday night game with an ankle injury described as an awkward high-ankle sprain. According to Yahoo Sports, Love played 23 snaps in the Cardinals’ win over the Las Vegas Raiders before going down late, and his status now carries risk for the team’s season opener.

High-ankle sprains are particularly difficult to manage because they can linger, even when swelling and pain improve. That matters for a player expected to contribute in multiple phases of an NFL offense, where change-of-direction and pass-protection footwork are both key, and where the margin for limited mobility is small.

The injury stakes are heightened by timing. With the season opener looming, Arizona reportedly remains hopeful that Love can return by Week 1. Still, the report frames his outlook as uncertain, which suggests the Cardinals could have to lean on other options at running back if the team’s medical staff decides he is not ready to handle a full workload.

Love’s involvement before the injury, 23 snaps, also adds context to why Arizona’s staff will have decisions to make soon. In preseason, coaches use limited reps to evaluate roles, and a running back who sees that many snaps typically is part of the plan beyond just emergency depth.

For the Cardinals, the next step is less about speculation and more about clarity from their training and practice availability. Whether Love is able to progress through day-to-day work, and whether he can demonstrate comfort and stability on the ankle under game-like demands, will likely determine how the backfield looks when the regular season begins.

Arizona’s Week 1 preparation will also be shaped by contingency planning. Even if Love’s return remains the expectation, the Cardinals may need to ensure they have a reliable package of carries and receptions ready, particularly early in games when coaching staffs are less inclined to reduce risk with an untested injury recovery plan.