The Arizona Cardinals will be without their No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters ahead of practice on Wednesday that the rookie running back will not be suiting up Thursday night. LaFleur's decision comes as a surprise, as reports about Love have been good through training camp.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has praised Love's explosive play, saying that everyone can see how explosive the running back is. Love's absence will give the Cardinals a chance to manage his workload, which has been a topic of discussion throughout training camp.
The Cardinals had signed free agent Tyler Allgeier to a two-year deal before using the No. 3 overall pick on Love in the 2026 NFL Draft. This has created an all-of-a-sudden deep RB room, with Love and Allgeier joining incumbent running backs James Conner and Trey Benson.
Love finished third in Heisman voting last season at Notre Dame, playing in 12 games and finishing with 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries. He has shown he can handle a heavy workload, but the Cardinals will look to manage his workload through his first preseason.
While Love won’t play Thursday night, Arizona will be starting another important rookie. Third-round selection Carson Beck will be starting at quarterback. Veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will not play, so Beck is expected to get a good amount of reps in the game.
The Cardinals' decision to rest Love may also give other players a chance to shine. With Arizona being selected for the Hall of Fame Game, the franchise gets an extra preseason game and will play four total instead of three like the other 30 teams in the league.
This preseason will be crucial for the Cardinals, as they look to determine their starting lineup and figure out how to manage their running back room. The absence of Love on Thursday night will give them a chance to do just that.
Source: Yahoo Sports