EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A week after the Arizona Cardinals handed Jeremiyah Love the largest workload of his young career, the trend reversed.
In Arizona’s 36-24 Week 4 loss to the New York Giants, Love saw just 30 offensive snaps, compared to 36 for Tyler Allgeier. Love did lead the backfield in carries (14 to 8), while Allgeier saw more work on passing downs.
And it was all Allgeier on the final drive of the game, when Arizona came four yards short of a potential game-winning touchdown.
“It was more of a protection emphasis,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said, explaining that the Giants were blitzing heavily in that situation. He described Allgeier as the Cardinals' “third-down back,” who is most trusted in that role.
It did not seem, though,
that the split was entirely due to game script, based on Love’s postgame comments.
At one point in the second half, trainers appeared to be looking at Love’s ankle before he returned to the game. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in preseason, seven weeks ago, although he has not missed a regular season game and was not on the injury report this week.
“Not really bothering me, kinda just managing it,” Love said. “Cause we've got a long season; coaches don't want to overload me. So not necessarily bothering me to the point where I can't play, 'cause I can go out there and play regardless. Whether it's bothering me, I've gotta go out there and putting something on the line for the team to put us in the best position to have success. But it was alright.”
Love later explained that the Cardinals are managing his workload because, “It’s been a long year for me.”
For rookies, spring is filled with pre-draft training and rookie mini-camp, while veterans can rest their bodies. As such, rookie seasons are often described as the longest of their careers.
“My body sometimes is down,” Love said. “Sometimes tired. So it's just managing those things. And coaches know that. This is probably gonna be the longest year of my life. I just want to manage that workload. So today just obviously making sure to keep an eye on managing me. But I didn't go out there hurt anything or anything like that. They're doing what they need to do to keep me up so that I can finish the season.”
Love said it’s “frustrating” to not feel like the same version of himself he was last season at Notre Dame. He repeatedly emphasized, though, that none of that frustration lies with the coaching staff.
“They're doing a great job with managing me,” Love said.
Against the Giants, Love said there was a moment when he told the coaching staff that Allgeier and third-stringer Bam Knight could “exert themselves a little bit more” than he was capable of.
“I would probably just hinder the team if I'm going out there and I'm not feeling like myself,” Love said. “So why not put somebody else out there that, physically, they're playing better? I accept that. I'm not gonna go out there. I'm honest with my coaches.”
If this remains the case all season, it may be difficult for Love to hit the statistical thresholds widely expected of a No. 3 overall pick at running back.
For the rebuilding Cardinals, though, it is just as important to monitor the health of a franchise cornerstone.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love explain reduced workload
