Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love injured his right ankle in Sunday’s game at Dallas, and a return to the game appears difficult. The Cardinals have not announced a diagnosis, and the early view is that the ankle will keep him from coming back. Arizona trailed 7-0 early in the second quarter, and the team entered the day 2-5.
The injury involves the same ankle that cost Love time before the season even began. The No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame suffered a high-ankle sprain in his preseason debut on August 13 against the Raiders, an injury that first looked minor, with coach Mike LaFleur saying he could have returned that night, before he woke up sore and was held out for a week. He recovered in time for the season opener at the Chargers, and Arizona won 26-14. A high-ankle sprain involves the ligaments above the ankle joint, and a reinjury of that area can be more serious than a typical ankle roll, especially for a back who relies on cutting and explosiveness.
Love has also dealt with the other ankle. He was hurt in Week 4 against the Giants, and the injury developed into a left ankle issue that kept him out of the October 18 game against the Rams, which Arizona won 18-16 without him. LaFleur said at the time that Love had the right ankle early and now had the left one, adding that the right ankle was fine and the left was the lingering issue. The sequence leaves Love with two ankles that have each been sprained in the last three months. He returned against the Lions on October 11 and the Broncos last week before today’s injury.
With Love out, Arizona would lean on Tyler Allgeier, who rotated with him in training camp, and the rest of its backfield. The Cardinals play next Sunday, November 8, at Seattle, and the timeline will depend on imaging and how the ankle looks after the game. The key updates are the team’s official diagnosis, whether X-rays or an MRI are ordered, and his practice status this week.
