The Arizona Cardinals will have rookie running back Jeremiyah Love back in the lineup on Sunday when they travel to face the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed.
Love, selected third overall in the draft, missed Arizona’s previous two contests because of an injury to his left ankle. He logged a full practice session Friday, clearing the way for his return to action in the Week 8 matchup, according to team injury reports published by Cardinals Wire and ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports.
Rookie Runner Back in Action
The ankle problem originally emerged during Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks and worsened over subsequent games, AZCentral reported. Following an ineffective showing against the Detroit Lions in Week 5, team leadership opted to shut the running back down so his ankle could properly heal.
Through his first five professional appearances, Love carried the football 67 times for 245 yards and one touchdown, while adding 11 receptions for 36 yards and another score. When asked if the rookie would be fully healthy, LaFleur pointed out that very few players across the league are at 100 percent by Nov. 1, but emphasized that Love is “feeling as good as he can feel,” AZCentral reported.
Love noted that the ailment severely limited his signature agility. “I mean, I ain’t myself when I got my ankles,” Love said, as reported by AZCentral. “As a running back or as a receiver, a lot of the moves that we do, we do with our ankles and knees. I like to come to a complete stop, so I use my ankles a lot. So if your ankles aren’t right, you’re not gonna be able to do that.”
The return gives Arizona an offensive weapon against a Dallas defense that has surrendered more than 1,000 rushing yards on the season while yielding an average of 4.7 yards per carry, according to SB Nation.
Offensive Line Questions
While Love returns to the backfield, the Cardinals face compounding health issues along their offensive front. Center Hjalte Froholdt did not participate in Friday’s practice after suffering a knee tweak on Thursday, Oct. 29, putting his availability in jeopardy, Cardinals Wire reported. Froholdt has started 58 consecutive games for Arizona since joining the team as a free agent in 2023.
“We’ll see where he’s at today and tomorrow and go from there on Sunday,” LaFleur told reporters regarding Froholdt’s status.
If Froholdt cannot suit up, LaFleur said Hayden Conner would shift over to start at center. Arizona is already depleted at right guard, where starter Isaiah Adams is on injured reserve and backup Jon Gaines II has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Should Conner move to center, the Cardinals may turn to reserve tackle Josh Fryar or Kingsley Eguakun to fill the void at right guard, AZCentral reported.
Other Key Absences and Returns
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen III will also sit out Sunday’s contest because of an ankle injury, according to team reports. However, starting right tackle Elijah Wilkinson logged a full practice on Friday and is expected to play despite dealing with a knee issue earlier in the week.
Wide receiver Michael Wilson spent the practice week wearing a yellow non-contact jersey due to a ribs issue, but the team expects him to play through the discomfort. LaFleur characterized Wilson’s situation as a matter of “pain tolerance” and noted that the injury cannot get any worse, AZCentral reported.
The Cardinals are scheduled to finalize their active gameday roster 90 minutes before kickoff on Sunday in Dallas.
