Running back Jeremiyah Love has been a limited participant due to an ankle injury in each of the Arizona Cardinals’ first two practices this week, but he appears likely to suit up when the Cardinals face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Oct. 11.
“As of right now, trending well,” head coach Mike LaFleur said.
Love played a season-high 64% of snaps in Week 3, but saw that number tick down to 45% in Week 4. At multiple points throughout the game, he appeared to be limping on his right ankle, which trainers looked at on the sidelines.
Afterward, Love said that it was a matter of “managing” his health, as he deals with the physical demands of a rookie season.
“I didn't go out there hurt anything or anything like that,” Love said. “They're doing what they
need to do to keep me up so that I can finish the season.”
In his press conference on Friday, Oct. 9, LaFleur was asked whether he anticipates Love’s health having to be managed all season.
“It's a maintenance thing with ankles,” LaFleur said. “You guys see the way he cuts. So I don't know what he's totally feeling, only he knows. But he's doing good. He's out there practicing, he's running around. ... But yeah, maintenance, management.”
Cardinals without starting safety
Safety Andrew Wingard is out against the Lions, LaFleur said. He suffered a knee injury in Week 4, when he landed awkwardly while trying to break up a contested pass.
With Wingard out, the Cardinals will have to turn once again to undrafted rookie safety Wydett Williams alongside stalwart Budda Baker in the secondary.
Williams struggled after entering for Wingard, as he was responsible for multiple coverage busts on explosive passing plays. He had only played 16 NFL snaps before that game, though, so the Cardinals are optimistic that he can improve in his second full opportunity.
“He did some good things,” LaFleur said. “You just hope the game slows down for any of these guys as they just continue to stack reps, stack games, stack plays. So he's made of the right stuff. He's had a great week of preparation. It's not too big for him. You can just see it in his eyes and the way he goes about his business.”
LaFleur offers defense of Jacoby Brissett
Amid the Cardinals’ 1-3 start, many outside observers have turned their frustrations to quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Inside the Cardinals’ building, though, players and coaches alike have been consistent in their support of Brissett.
LaFleur was asked why the organization remains confident in its starting quarterback.
“Because he's done really good things,” LaFleur said. “There's a lot of good stuff that he's done. It's the hardest position in all of sports, so when you don't win, it's on the quarterback. When you win, the quarterback gets maybe even more flowers than they deserve. And the truth is, a lot of times, somewhere in between."
Other injury updates
- Defensive lineman Walter Nolen was added to the injury report on Thursday, Oct. 8, with a calf injury, but LaFleur said that he is “trending good” ahead of the Week 5 game. Nolen has had a mixed start to the season but is still the Cardinals’ most dangerous interior pass rusher, as he showed with four pressures and a sack in Week 4.
- Edge rusher Jordan Burch missed the Cardinals’ first two practices of the week for personal reasons but is "good" for Week 5, LaFleur said. Burch posted on Instagram that he was at his grandmother’s funeral earlier in the week.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals update Jeremiyah Love's status for Week 5
