Updated

Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 17

Cardinals' Jeremiyah Love Suffers High Ankle Sprain, Threatening Week 1 Return in 4 Weeks

Updated

Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 17

Cardinals' Jeremiyah Love Suffers High Ankle Sprain, Threatening Week 1 Return in 4 Weeks

Q: With their star rookie sidelined, will the Cardinals be forced to halt trade talks for their veteran running backs?

No. Jeremiyah Love’s ankle setback is more likely to slow the Cardinals’ evaluation process than force them to shut down veteran running back trade talks entirely. Arizona still has unusual depth in the backfield even with Love out for at least a week. Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, Trey Benson, Bam Knight, Evan Hull and Corey Kiner remain available, and multiple reports have described running back as one of the deepest groups on the roster. That gives the team short-term cover while Love is sidelined. What changes is the timing and leverage. Love was drafted No. 3 overall to be a major part of the offense, and his strong preseason debut reinforced that plan. But with Love now missing practice time, plus Benson managing knee issues and Conner also coming back from injury, Arizona has more reason to be cautious before moving an experienced back. That especially applies to Conner, whose name has surfaced most often in trade speculation, and to Benson, who has also been viewed as a possible trade or cut candidate. The Cardinals are unlikely to “halt” talks across the board, but they may wait for more medical clarity before making a decision. If Love’s absence stays brief, Arizona could still move one veteran to ease the logjam. If the injury lingers or other backs remain limited, the team’s appetite to trade proven depth would naturally cool. For now, Love’s injury does not erase the trade market; it mainly makes Arizona less likely to rush into a deal.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 17

Jeremiyah Love has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after his preseason debut, putting the Cardinals rookie's regular-season opener at the Chargers in doubt.
Four weeks is Arizona's hoped-for recovery timeline, but high ankle sprains typically take longer to heal than low sprains and could cost Love the rest of the preseason.
Love, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft, logged 14 touches Thursday night before the injury; coach Mike LaFleur had earlier declined to specify the sprain type.
Arizona already worked out three running backs Saturday and signed Stewart, leaving veteran James Conner and free-agent addition Tyler Allegier as the main backfield depth.