The nightmare rookie season for Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love just took another ugly turn. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain, the team announced Tuesday. He will miss at least the next four games.
It's a gut punch for a player who was supposed to be the centerpiece of head coach Mike LaFleur's offense. Instead, Love has been stuck in a frustrating cycle of injuries and underwhelming production. An ankle issue already cost him two games earlier this season, and his return this past Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys was supposed to be a fresh start. It was anything but.
Love managed just 23 rushing yards on nine carries in the Week 8 loss. Two days later, the diagnosis came back: a high-ankle sprain severe enough to warrant a stint on IR. For a rookie trying to find his footing, it's a devastating setback.
The numbers tell the story of a season gone sideways. Through his first NFL campaign, Love has mustered only 268 rushing yards and a single touchdown — hardly the return the Cardinals envisioned when they made him a top-three pick. The hype was immense, but the results have yet to follow.
With Love sidelined indefinitely, Arizona will turn to veteran running back Tyler Allgeier, who has been a bright spot. Allgeier exploded in Sunday's win over Dallas, racking up 147 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He'll now carry the load for an offense desperately searching for stability.
The Cardinals also have Bam Knight as a change-of-pace option. The NC State product has tallied 168 rushing yards on 28 carries this season, giving Arizona a reliable secondary weapon out of the backfield.
Love's injury is the latest chapter in what has been a brutal year for the Cardinals, who have also dealt with R.J. Mosley's devastating knee injury and swirling trade rumors surrounding Josh Sweat. The team now faces a critical stretch without its prized rookie.
Arizona will host the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on Allgeier to see if he can keep the ground game rolling. For Love, the focus shifts to rehab and a potential return later in the season — though the clock is ticking on salvaging what's left of his rookie year.
