Jeremiyah Love Sidelined by Injury Amid Frustrating Start to NFL Career

Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love has been ruled out of the team's Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams due to a lingering left ankle injury. The setback marks another difficult point in what has been a frustrating start to the NFL career for the No. 3 overall pick in last April's draft.

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur stated Friday that the injury was not improving and, in fact, was worsening. "We felt like it wasn’t improving and maybe even getting a little bit worse," LaFleur said. "At that point, it’s like, if it’s not improving, it’s getting a little bit worse, we got to do what’s right for the player."

Love has been dealing with ankle issues throughout the season. He sustained a right high ankle sprain during a preseason game against the Raiders in mid-August, which limited his participation leading into the regular season. Later, in Week 4 against the New York Giants, Love injured his left ankle. This injury persisted through last week's game against the Detroit Lions before ultimately leading to his absence for the Week 6 contest.

"He’s doing good, but you see the way he cuts — he cuts hard," LaFleur explained, according to the Cardinals' team website. "That’s a superpower of his. When he puts his left foot in the ground, it’s just not right right now. To run routes and separate, you have to be able to put those feet in the ground. We want to get him healed so he can do that in the run game and the pass game. … He is going to be a big part of our pass game when we feel he’s capable of doing it."

Love has not yet met the high expectations set by analysts who considered him one of the premier running back prospects in recent NFL draft history. Through his first five games, he has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and has not recorded a run longer than 20 yards. In the passing game, Love has been an infrequent contributor, with only 11 receptions across five games played.