Cardinals get 50-50 update on Jeremiyah Love for Week 1 amid ankle injury

The Arizona Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

He only played in one preseason game, but he looked the part. Now, the question for the Cardinals running back is about his ankle injury. Some reports have been positive, but the latest is a bit of an unknown.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Love reportedly has a 50-50 chance of playing in Week 1. These aren't the greatest odds, as there's a good chance he misses the first week of the regular season.

Jeremiyah Love has a 50-50 chance of playing Week 1

"Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals running back, is progressing in his return from a high ankle sprain," Garafolo said. "Trending towards a Week 1 return? Maybe. I talked to a source yesterday who said, 'I'll put it at about 50-50.' Nobody really knows right now."

From @gmfb: The #Steelers and CB Joey Porter Jr. are facing a contract deadline as he manages his back injury, #AZCardinals RB Jeremiyah Love is working his way back, the #Cowboys waive QB Joe Milton and the #Ravens add competition for K Tyler Loop. pic.twitter.com/9QmBZgebxJ

Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is not guaranteed to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season in his rookie year.

This is going to be a really interesting question for the Cardinals, as while they could make Love active if he's good to go for the opening Week, risking further injury if he's not 100% would not make sense.

Arizona isn't going to be a contender this year, as there's too much work to do in order to return to the playoffs. Putting Love onto the field before he's fully healthy is not a risk worth taking.

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With that in mind, it makes sense that Love has a 50-50 chance to play in Week 1. There's a chance he's able to suit up, but the question of further injury risk could decide this outcome.

Reports lately have indicated he's trending towards that Week 1 return, but Garafolo's addition to the Love story is an important one. While he could return in Week 1, his availability is still very much up in the air.

It's September 1 at the time of this report from Garafolo, and the Cardinals don't play until the 13. Cardinals fans might just have to wait over a week until some clarity is finally found with Love's status for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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