Cardinals' Jeremiyah Love delayed debut

The Arizona Cardinals will hold rookie running back Jeremiyah Love out of Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, delaying the first on-field appearance of one of the team's most-watched newcomers. Bleacher Report reported that coach Mike LaFleur said Love will not play in the preseason opener and that his debut will wait at least another week. Arizona opens the 2026 preseason in Canton, Ohio, at 8 p.m. ET, with the extra Hall of Fame Game giving the club four exhibition games instead of the usual three. ### Why isn't Love playing in the Hall of Fame Game? Mike LaFleur said Love will not play Thursday night, according to Bleacher Report's report on Arizona's game-week availability. The decision means Love's professional debut will not come in the NFL's annual preseason opener. (bleacherreport.com) Arizona's own camp coverage had pointed in that direction earlier this week. AZCardinals.com reported two days before the game that top backs Tyler Allgeier and Love were unlikely to play as the team prepared for the Panthers. ### How long is the delay expected to last? Bleacher Report said Love's debut has been pushed back at least one week. (bleacherreport.com) Arizona's next preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, making that the earliest reported window for his first NFL action. (azcardinals.com) The Cardinals' 2026 preseason schedule includes four games because of their Hall of Fame Game assignment. After the Raiders game, Arizona is set to host the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 22 before closing the preseason on the road against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 28, according to the team schedule page. ### Who is Jeremiyah Love in Arizona's backfield plans? (bleacherreport.com) ESPN lists Love as a Cardinals running back wearing No. 4 and identifies him as a 2026 first-round pick out of Notre Dame. His profile lists him at 6-foot-0 and 212 pounds. NFL.com lists Love at 6-foot-0 and 214 pounds and shows him on Arizona's active roster as a rookie. The Cardinals' running back group on ESPN's roster page also includes James Conner, Trey Benson and Tyler Allgeier. (azcardinals.com) ### What game is Arizona playing instead? The Pro Football Hall of Fame said the Cardinals and Panthers will open the NFL's 107th season on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. (espn.com) NFL.com and the Hall list kickoff at 8 p.m. ET. AZCardinals.com said Carson Beck will start at quarterback for Arizona in the Hall of Fame Game, giving the rookie quarterback the first preseason start while Love remains out. (nfl.com) The team also published its game-day viewing information Wednesday. ### When should fans watch for Love's debut now? Aug. 13 is the next date to watch. Bleacher Report said Love's first appearance is delayed at least a week, and Arizona's next preseason stop is a road game against the Raiders in Las Vegas. (nfl.com) Thursday night's game still goes ahead in Canton at 8 p.m. (azcardinals.com) ET with Arizona and Carolina opening the preseason. For Love, the next checkpoint is whether he is available when the Cardinals return to the field on Aug. 13. (profootballhof.com) (bleacherreport.com)