Cardinals expect Jeremiyah Love to miss a second game with ankle injury cover
Back to Reality Sports Online Newsroom

Cardinals expect Jeremiyah Love to miss a second game with ankle injury

Arizona's rookie running back is not expected to play Sunday against Denver, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz said Thursday. Love did not practice Wednesday and also missed last week's game against the Rams.

Share this article

  • Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is not expected to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz said Thursday, citing sources. It would be the second straight game Love misses with his left ankle injury.

  • What is confirmed

    Love did not practice Wednesday as Arizona opened its Week 7 work, according to RotoBaller's injury note. He also sat out last week's game against the Los Angeles Rams after head coach Mike LaFleur ruled him out on Friday. At the time, LaFleur said there had been no discussion of injured reserve and that the team would re-evaluate him every day.

    Tyler Allgeier started in Love's place against the Rams, with Bam Knight as the backup.

    What is still a report

    The Week 7 absence comes from Zenitz's sources, not from the team. The Cardinals have not ruled Love out, and their final word usually comes with Friday's injury report. Arizona has also said nothing new about injured reserve.

    Why it matters for RSO owners

    Love has 245 rushing yards on 67 carries through five games, and the ankle has limited him for most of that stretch. LaFleur said earlier that the injury affects how Love plants and cuts, which has kept him out of a bigger passing-game role.

    A second missed week makes this a lingering injury, not a one-game rest. That matters in contract leagues because a rookie deal is the cheapest stretch of Love's career, and every lost week is a lost week of that value. Still, nothing points to a long-term problem. Selling a first-round rookie at a discount because of two missed games is the wrong move.

  • What to do now

    Plan to bench Love for Week 7 and line up a replacement before Sunday. If your league allows an IR slot for players listed out, move him there once the team makes it official. Allgeier is the likely lead back again and belongs in the RB2 or flex conversation. Knight is a deeper-league add or handcuff.

    What to watch next

    Watch Thursday's and Friday's practice reports. Any limited session would change the outlook, while a Friday "out" designation confirms the report. If Love keeps missing practice into next week, the injured reserve question LaFleur set aside will come back.