The Arizona Cardinals’ hopes of unlocking Jeremiyah Love’s explosive potential are running into another frustrating roadblock. The running back missed Wednesday’s practice while resting his troublesome left ankle. It put his availability for Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in doubt. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Arizona is taking the situation “one day at a time.” However, his comments offered little reassurance about the lingering issue.

“They're ankles. It's an ankle,” LaFleur said. “So, you don't know. I'm not a doctor and each body's a little bit different.”

He added that Love’s recovery from a preseason ankle injury had been impressive. Still, the problem that surfaced during the regular season “has just lingered.” For a young back whose game depends heavily on acceleration and explosiveness, the persistent discomfort is becoming a serious concern.

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Love flashed his potential with an 89-yard rushing performance against San Francisco in Week 3. That offered a glimpse of the dynamic playmaker Arizona envisioned when it selected him third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, his production has dipped as the ankle issue has continued to affect him. Against Detroit last Sunday, Love managed just 22 yards on 12 carries. That left him averaging 3.7 yards per attempt through five games. LaFleur acknowledged that the injury has compromised the burst that makes Love dangerous in the open field.

Arizona has also managed Love’s workload alongside Tyler Allgeier. That underscores the importance of preserving the running back’s long-term health. Still, every missed practice and limited performance makes it harder for Love to build momentum during his first NFL season. With the Cardinals preparing for a difficult divisional test against Los Angeles, his status bears watching.