Jeremiyah Love has shown plenty of flashes this season that he could be a dominant running back in the NFL. Ankle issues, however, have slowed down the rookie. Love just missed his second consecutive game with a high left ankle sprain. The former Notre Dame star had already had some lingering issues with a high right ankle sprain that he suffered early in the pre-season.
Below, we will dish out a Love injury update and look at when he will return to the Cardinals.
Jeremiyah Love injury update: When will Cardinals RB return?
Love’s current situation is a bit of a strange one.
Mild high ankle sprains typically take 4-8 weeks to recover from, but the Cardinals have not yet put their star running back on injured reserve. By being placed on injured reserve, Love would be forced to miss at least four games and it would open up an active roster spot for the Cardinals.
He has already missed the last two games due to this injury.
A video of Love cutting and moving around with ease at a team charity event (Junior Cardinals Flag Football) made the rounds on social media last week.
Given the Cardinals’ current record (2-5), there is little incentive for the team to rush him back.
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that the first time Love’s left high ankle sprain was “visually” evident was during the Cardinals’ Week 4 loss to the Giants. Love wound up playing in Week 5 against the Lions, but he turned in his worst statistical game of the season thus far, rushing for just 22 yards on 12 carries.
“He cuts hard,” LaFleur said. “That’s a superpower of his. When’s putting his left foot in the ground, it’s just not right right now. And to get him to be his best ability, it’s what’s right (to sit him out), so he can got out and perform the way that he wants. So, he can go out and, honestly, run the routes that he wants. To run routes and separate, you got to be able to put those feet in the ground and it’s got to be deliberate, so we want to get him healed so he can do that in the pass game and in the run game.”
Love did not practice at all last week. His practice status will obviously be something to monitor this week as the Cardinals prepare to face the Cowboys in Dallas.
Here is a look at the Cardinals’ upcoming schedule.
- Week 8 Sunday, November 1: Cardinals at Cowboys
- Week 9 Sunday, November 8: Cardinals at Seahawks
- Week 10 Sunday, November 15: Rams at Cardinals
- Week 11 Sunday, November 22: Cardinals at Chiefs
- Week 12 Sunday, November 29: Commanders at Cardinals
The Cardinals do not have a bye until Week 14.
Jeremiyah Love fantasy football stock
Love had an ADP of 22 overall and was RB14 in fantasy football drafts this past summer. He has had a decent start to his NFL career as he is averaging 49 rushing yards per game. His career-high thus far is a 90-yard rushing performance in Week 3 against the 49ers. He has scored 1 TD in five games.
Love was the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year when the season began, but he is now third on the Fanatics Sportsbook odds board behind Carnell Tate, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston.
Cardinals odds
The Cardinals were +70000 at Fanatics to win the Super Bowl prior to the start of the season. They are currently +100000 to win it all.
Arizona is +15000 to win the loaded NFC West. The Cards currently have a projected win total of 3.5 wins, with juice on the Over.
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