Source: Cardinals' Love expected to play Sunday

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  Josh WeinfussSep 11, 2026, 12:07 PM ET

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  Josh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Jeremiyah Love's NFL debut is imminent.

After dealing with a high ankle sprain since Aug. 13th, which caused him to miss three weeks of practice, the Cardinals first-round pick is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, a source told ESPN.

Love suffered the injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Arizona's second preseason game. He said Thursday that the injury is "getting better every day." Love has been listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's and Thursday's practice. The final injury report of the week, which will include a game designation, will come out Friday afternoon.

Coach Mike LaFleur said Wednesday that there weren't any limits on Love this week and that he feels "good" about his running back.

Love said Thursday that he started rehabbing his ankle as soon as he injured it and that he turned down a walking boot after team trainers suggested he wear it.

"I've always been trying to just do more than what they want me to do," Love said. "When I first injured it, they wanted to put me in a boot and I'm like, 'Nah, I just want to walk around. I want to feel it out and do my own thing.' But them being trainers, they know what's best.

"So, I kind of push myself all the time. So, throughout this whole process of dealing with this high ankle, I've always just been pushing myself, getting extra work and just trying to do the right things."

Love said Thursday that he would be "excited" if he got to play Sunday in his first NFL game and not nervous. "Just excited to get out there and do it with the boys and just display what I can do," he said.