Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love maintained his activity level during Thursday’s practice sessions, a promising sign as the young playmaker attempts to work his way back from a lingering ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past two weeks. Head coach Mike LaFleur has yet to formally declare whether Love will be cleared to return to game action for Sunday’s upcoming matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, leaving his official game-day status hanging in the balance as the team prepares to travel.
The progression shown during the mid-week workouts follows a cautious rehabilitation timeline for the 21-year-old running back. Love was initially forced to miss the Cardinals’ Week 6 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and subsequently sat out the following contest against the Denver Broncos, a stretch where backfield duties were largely absorbed by teammates Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight. After sitting out practice entirely early last week, Love’s return to the practice field in a limited capacity on Wednesday marked a crucial turning point in his recovery. By maintaining that workload and building upon it on Thursday, Love has kept himself in consideration to rejoin the active roster this weekend.
The Cardinals’ coaching staff and medical personnel are expected to evaluate Love’s functional mobility and comfort levels closely during Friday’s final practice session. That upcoming workout and the accompanying injury report will ultimately determine whether the second-year weapon receives a designation to play or is forced to watch from the sidelines for a third consecutive week.
Love’s presence on the field carries considerable weight for the Arizona offense, particularly given the investment the franchise made in the young runner earlier this year. In May 2026, the Cardinals secured Love’s services for the foreseeable future by signing him to a lucrative four-year, $53.02 million contract extension. The multi-year commitment underscored the organization’s belief in his dynamic skill set and his projected role as a foundational piece of their offensive strategy.
As the Cardinals gear up for the weekend battle, they face a formidable test against a Cowboys pass defense that has put together strong numbers over the course of the season. Dallas enters the Week 8 matchup boasting an overall quarterback rating against of 80.9, positioning their defensive unit near the upper tier of the league in terms of efficiency and limiting opposing aerial attacks. While Love primarily makes his impact as a runner, his involvement in the offensive scheme provides a versatile dimension that helps keep opposing defenses honest, forcing them to account for both traditional rushing threats and quick-hitting concepts out of the backfield.
The timing of Love’s potential return coincides with a crucial stretch of the regular season for Arizona as they look to solidify their positioning in the standings and navigate the competitive landscape of the NFC. Fantasy football managers and analysts alike have been closely monitoring the Cardinals’ backfield updates throughout the week, weighing Love’s potential workload against the challenges posed by the Cowboys’ defensive front and secondary units.
With Friday’s practice report looming as the final indicator of his availability, the Cardinals will soon make a definitive call on whether their high-priced running back is ready to reclaim his spot on the gridiron or if the team will rely once again on their depth to shoulder the offensive load in Dallas.
