All signs appear to be pointing up for Jeremiyah Love ahead of Week 1.
The Arizona Cardinals rookie running back has participated in all three practice sessions this week, as he is now four weeks removed from suffering a high-ankle sprain on his left leg against the Las Vegas Raiders in preseason.
While Love was officially listed as limited on the first two days of practice this week, he did not appear to have any restrictions during the portions open to media. During those sessions, Love was able to cut off his injured ankle at speed, and participated in full-team jog-throughs, alternating with veteran running back Tyler Allgeier.
When asked before practice on Friday, Sept. 11, head coach Mike LaFleur did not commit to Love’s status for Week 1 against
the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Still got another good day of work today to figure that out,” LaFleur said. “But he's trending well.”
Later, LaFleur mentioned that the Cardinals could have some players who are game-time decisions. When asked whether Love is among those players, he hesitated before answering.
“Uh, yeah,” LaFleur said. “I'd say so.”
It’s hard, though, to not see this as mere gamesmanship. The Cardinals, of course, want the Chargers to have uncertainty as they game plan for this backfield.
But with Love participating in key parts of practice, and with LaFleur repeatedly expressing optimism about his recovery, it seems likely that he will suit up for his NFL debut.
The bigger question may be what his workload looks like. Throughout training camp, the Cardinals rotated between Love and Allgeier, with the latter working as the first running back in most 11-on-11 sessions. The split reversed in their one preseason game, as Love saw eight snaps with the starting offense to Allgeier’s three.
But with Love still working back to full strength, the guess here would be a fairly even backfield split in Week 1, with Love progressively earning a larger share as the season progresses.
The running back himself, meanwhile, offered little insight when asked whether he expects to play in Week 1, choosing to remain coy.
“I expect to do whatever the coaches want me to do," he said. "They want to put me out there, I'm gonna go out there and play, whether my ankle feels 100%, 50%, 70%. I just want to play football.
"But I'm gonna fight my hardest to be out there every single game of this season and it ultimately all comes down to coach's decision whether I'm hurt or not.”
Three Cardinals out vs. Chargers
While Love’s status remains uncertain — at least officially — three Cardinals players were ruled out by LaFleur in his press conference on Sept. 11.
Right guard Isaiah Adams will be out with a knee injury suffered three weeks ago, meaning Jon Gaines will start in his place. Gaines began training camp as the Cardinals’ third-stringer, but moved up the depth chart when second-round rookie Chase Bisontis suffered a season-ending torn MCL in preseason.
Cornerback Garrett Williams, who suffered a torn Achilles in December, is not yet ready to return, so Denzel Burke will start in the nickel. And safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is out with a ribs injury that he suffered in preseason, although he was slated to be a backup anyway.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals vs Chargers. What to expect from Jeremiyah Love in Week 1
