On a team looking for more consistency from the ground game, running back Bam Knight could be the x-factor Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Rams.
With rookie Jeremiyah Love out for the game because of an ankle injury, Knight and Tyler Allgeier will handle most of the carries. How much Knight is used will be intriguing to see. He brings a quickness that Allgeier doesn’t have, which could be crucial in the game plan.
Head coach Mike LaFleur said Friday, “His teammates and all of us have a lot of confidence in Bam. When he’s been out there, he’s performed well whether that was back in 2022 with me in New York (Jets) or in the time he’s been here. So I’m excited to see him run. He runs hard, and he’ll get his opportunity.”
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Hull, who had some good performances in the preseason will likely be elevated from the practice squad. Jerome Ford was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday, so it would appear to be a long shot for him to contribute on offense and special teams after only three practices.
As for Love, after missing time with a right high-ankle sprain suffered in an Aug. 13 preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, it appears he suffered an injury to his left ankle in the Week 4 game against the New York Giants when trainers were seen attending to him on the sideline, which also was the case last Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
The week before the game against the Giants, in his most action of the season, Love rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries and added 19 yards on five receptions. Then, in the first two touchdown drives against the Giants, he had six attempts for 43 yards including one for 16 yards.
However, for the rest of that game and last Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, he totaled only 42 yards on 20 attempts, one reception for minus-8 yards and has been in the game sparingly for pass protection and as a receiver, including the last four plays of the final possession against the Giants when he didn’t see the field.
While saying there has been no discussion at this point about placing Love on injured reserve, LaFleur said Friday, “We knew on Monday after watching the game, talking with him, seeing where he was at, that we were going to give him Wednesday off and reassess on Wednesday, with knowing that probably Sunday was a long shot.
“We've got to really re-evaluate, really every single day. Not good enough, obviously, right now to go Sunday. It wouldn't be in the best interest of him. And then we'll re-evaluate, obviously, on Monday.”
His ongoing availability will require him to be as close to 100 percent as possible so as not to risk more issues that could reappear during a game.
“He's doing well, but you guys see the way he cuts,” LaFleur said. “He cuts hard. That's a superpower of his. And when he's putting his left foot in the ground, it's just not right, right now. And to get him to be to his best ability, it's what's right so he can go out and perform the way that he wants.”
That applies to being able to utilize him as a receiver.
LaFleur said, “To run routes and separate, you've gotta be able to put those feet in the ground. And it's gotta be deliberate. So we want to get him healed so he can do that in the pass game and in the run game. He is gonna be a big part of our pass game, when we feel like he's capable of doing that.
“We just need to get him healthy.”
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals working to get Jeremiyah Love healthy
