Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love did not practice Wednesday because of a lingering ankle issue, per Pro Football Talk and Yahoo Sports. ESPN's report adds that the problem is with his left ankle and that he sat out to rest it. ESPN also said his status for Sunday's game against the Rams is unclear. Its headline quotes coach Mike LaFleur as calling rest 'vital'. The feed summary we have does not include the full quote or its context, so we can't say how LaFleur applied it to Love.
The word 'lingering' suggests the ankle was already a problem before this week, but the reporting we have doesn't say when or how Love was hurt. He played Sunday against Detroit, and our records show no missed games this season. Wednesday's absence is not a final injury designation. The Cardinals' practice reports later in the week will show whether he returns.
His production has been uneven. Love ran for 90 yards on 21 carries at San Francisco on Sept. 27, then 63 yards on 14 carries at the Giants on Oct. 4. Against the Lions on Sunday he managed 22 yards on 12 carries, a 1.8-yard average, and was targeted once without a catch. The data can't say whether the ankle caused the drop. It does show that his best game of the season came when Arizona was playing from behind, in a 36-30 loss.
Arizona can ill afford to lose its lead back. The Cardinals are 1-4, fourth in the NFC West, and have lost four straight. The last three losses were 36-30 at the 49ers, 36-24 at the Giants and 45-21 to the Lions. That is 117 points allowed over three games, an average of 39 a game. A defense giving up that much makes it harder to lean on the run, whoever carries it.
| GP | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
The Cardinals visit the Rams on Sunday, Oct. 18, in the next game on their schedule. The reporting gives no timeline beyond the Wednesday absence, so the Thursday and Friday practice reports are the next indicator of whether Love plays.
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