Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Aug 13, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) carries the ball against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson (3) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals are already regretting giving star rookie running back Jeremiyah Love 11 carries in their first preseason game after Love suffered an ankle injury that could linger into the regular season.
Love, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner out of Notre Dame, was the third pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall in 2018.
There was never any doubt about how well Love would perform in the NFL. But many questioned the fit for a Cardinals team that seemingly needs help at every single position.
Now, Arizona is coming under even more scrutiny after it opted to hand Love a heavy workload before the regular season even begins.
The Arizona Cardinals Put Jeremiyah Love To Work In The Preseason
Love carried the ball 11 times for 58 yards in Arizona’s 27-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. He looked strong in the process, with many comparing him to former Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson.
However, it appears that the Cardinals’ and first-year head coach Mike LaFleur’s plan to lean on Love in a meaningless game has already backfired.
He moves just like him pic.twitter.com/BaCmCXrVMm
— Joe Orrico (@JoeOrrico) August 14, 2026
On Saturday, LaFleur told reporters that Love came into practice on Saturday feeling “a little more sore” than the team expected and dealing with an ankle injury. LaFleur also refused to clarify whether Love would be available for the team’s week one game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Unsurprisingly, fans immediately questioned why Love even played against the Raiders, and particularly how much he played.
“Love’s preseason week 1 workload wasn’t smart. Heard the rationale for it but come on… for what???” Ted Nguyen of The Athletic wrote on X.
“Never understood why a top-5 pick needed 15 touches in a preseason game,” another fan wrote.
Ultimately, it could be nothing. But Love dealt with injuries throughout his time at Notre Dame as well. So it’s easy to question the Cardinals’ thought process both with the draft pick and his early usage.