Arizona Cardinals Face Injury Challenges Ahead of NFL Season

The Arizona Cardinals are set to start their NFL season without the No. 3 overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft for a minimum of one week. Head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed on Saturday that running back Jeremiyah Love sustained an ankle injury during a recent preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Love experienced soreness after the game, which led to a cautious approach for his recovery. “He was in great spirits, even Friday,” LaFleur stated. “But we’ll keep him out this week as we let it heal. So, a little bit more sore than we were anticipating.”

Regarding Love’s potential return for Week 1, LaFleur emphasized the focus on current practices, “This week and then we’ll kind of go from there and reevaluate,” he said. Love is confirmed to sit out the second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.

Love initially performed with 11 carries for 58 yards and had three receptions for 14 yards in the opening preseason match. With his absence, Tyler Allgeier will assume the starting role, supported by Bam Knight and Corey Kiner. Veteran running back James Conner remains out of 11-on-11 drills due to a right foot injury that sidelined him for 14 games last season.

The injury woes for the Cardinals extend beyond Love. Second-round draft choice Chase Bisontis, vying for the right guard spot, tore his MCL. He is placed on injured reserve and is scheduled for surgery. LaFleur commented, “He’ll be out for a good amount of time, if not the whole year.” This setback impacts the Cardinals’ offensive line significantly.