Is Jeremiyah Love's ankle injury serious?

It's a high ankle sprain, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he's likely out for the rest of the preseason. That's a slower-healing injury than a standard low ankle sprain. Arizona is still hoping he can play in the Week 1 opener against the Chargers on September 13.

Will this affect Jeremiyah Love's dynasty value?

Not meaningfully on its own. His Dynasty Value Score sits at 7,664 — fifth among running backs — and it is built on draft capital, age, and projection rather than any NFL production. A preseason absence does not change those inputs. If the sprain pushes into the regular season or worsens, that is a different conversation.

Who benefits if Love needs more time to recover?

Tyler Allgeier is Arizona’s listed RB2 and the back most likely to see extra early-down work if Love is not ready for the opener. James Conner and Trey Benson are next on the depth chart, though both have been limited in camp themselves.

News

Jeremiyah Love Has a High Ankle Sprain, Likely Out for the Rest of the Preseason

He looked like the best player on the field in his first NFL action. Now Arizona's franchise back is facing the slower-healing version of an ankle injury, right as the regular season comes into view.

By Kenny Flermoen · August 16, 2026

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Jeremiyah Love has a high ankle sprain and is likely out for the remainder of the preseason. That's a step up from how the Cardinals had described it publicly — coach Mike LaFleur had only called it "sore" — and it changes the read on his Week 1 outlook. Arizona is still hoping he can be ready for the September 13 opener against the Chargers.

What happened

Love hurt his ankle late in the first half of Arizona's preseason opener against the Raiders on Thursday. He'd already put together the best performance on the field — 11 carries for 58 yards, three catches for 14 yards, and a pair of runs that showed the speed and vision that made him a top-five pick. LaFleur said after the game that Love was fine and could have kept playing.

By Saturday, the tone had shifted. LaFleur told reporters Love came in "a little more sore than we were anticipating" and would sit out at least a week, including next Saturday's preseason game against the Cowboys. He wouldn't commit to a firm return date. Schefter's report puts a name on why the outlook cooled: a high ankle sprain, which sits between the ligaments above the ankle joint rather than to the side of it, and typically takes noticeably longer to heal than the more common low sprain.

What a high ankle sprain means for his timeline

High ankle sprains routinely cost NFL players multiple weeks, sometimes longer depending on severity. Arizona's season opener is still about a month out, which gives Love real time to recover — a "likely out for the preseason" report isn't the same as a Week 1 outlook, and LaFleur has been careful not to rule anything out beyond this week. But it does mean Love will head into the regular season with little or no live preseason reps, which matters for a rookie learning a new offense and blocking scheme.

The dynasty and roster picture

Love remains Arizona's clear long-term lead back — a No. 3 overall pick drafted into a real starting role, not a committee flier. Our Dynasty Value Score already reflects that: he ranks 5th among running backs at 7,664, built almost entirely on draft capital and projection since he has zero accrued NFL seasons on the books. A short camp absence doesn't change any of those inputs.

The near-term question is touches. Tyler Allgeier is listed RB2 and is the Cardinal most likely to soak up early-down work if Love needs extra time — he already logged four carries for 19 yards in the Raiders game while Love was still available. James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) sit RB3 / RB4 on the depth chart but have been limited in camp themselves, which is why Allgeier and Bam Knight matter for the next two weeks of preseason. None of that changes who Arizona is building around. It just determines how the season opens.

Track Love on the Top 10 Dynasty Rookies board and the Top 40 RB season projections, and model a buy-low window against your own roster on the Dynasty Trade Calculator.

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FAQ

Is Jeremiyah Love's ankle injury serious?: It's a high ankle sprain, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he's likely out for the rest of the preseason. That's a slower-healing injury than a standard low ankle sprain. Arizona is still hoping he can play in the Week 1 opener against the Chargers on September 13.
Will this affect Jeremiyah Love's dynasty value?: Not meaningfully on its own. His Dynasty Value Score sits at 7,664 — fifth among running backs — and it is built on draft capital, age, and projection rather than any NFL production. A preseason absence does not change those inputs. If the sprain pushes into the regular season or worsens, that is a different conversation.
Who benefits if Love needs more time to recover?: Tyler Allgeier is Arizona’s listed RB2 and the back most likely to see extra early-down work if Love is not ready for the opener. James Conner and Trey Benson are next on the depth chart, though both have been limited in camp themselves.

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