Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love out tonight

Mike LaFleur said on Wednesday that Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will not play in Arizona’s Hall of Fame Game opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. The decision means Love’s first NFL game action will not come in Canton, Ohio, when the Cardinals and Panthers open the league’s 2026 preseason at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Bleacher Report and other outlets cited LaFleur’s comments after practice, and Arizona’s official site listed the game for Thursday, August 6, at 5 p.m. MST. ### Who made the call on Love’s status? Mike LaFleur, identified in multiple reports as Arizona’s head coach, told reporters on August 5 that Love would be among the Cardinals not playing in the Hall of Fame Game. Bleacher Report said the move would delay the rookie’s professional debut by at least one week, and Yahoo Sports carried the same update ahead of Thursday’s opener. (bleacherreport.com) Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ orbit and other Arizona-based reports also relayed LaFleur’s pre-practice comments that Love would not play Thursday. Those reports did not indicate a game-day injury announcement tied to the decision. ### What exactly is he missing Thursday night? Thursday’s game is the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between Arizona and Carolina in Canton, Ohio. (bleacherreport.com) The Pro Football Hall of Fame said kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game serves as the opening event of the NFL’s 107th season. Arizona’s official “How To Watch” page said the Cardinals face the Panthers on August 6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. (burncitysports.com) The annual Hall of Fame Game is the first preseason contest on the NFL calendar, which makes it the first live setting in which rookies can appear, even though many teams limit veteran and starter workloads. (profootballhof.com) ### What do we know about Love entering camp? Jeremiyah Love entered the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Bleacher Report and Field Level Media syndications. Reports on Wednesday and Thursday described him as Arizona’s top draft pick and a rookie expected to be a central part of the backfield. (azcardinals.com) Field Level Media’s syndicated report said Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry at Notre Dame and scored 21 total touchdowns, breaking the school’s single-season mark previously held by Jerome Bettis. Those numbers help explain why his first preseason appearance is being watched closely, even in August. ### If Love is out, who handles Arizona’s backfield tonight? (bleacherreport.com) Arizona Sports said James Conner, Trey Benson, Bam Knight, Evan Hull and Corey Kiner are among the other running backs on the Cardinals’ roster who could see work with Love out. The same report said Arizona has three more preseason games after Thursday before opening the regular season on September 13 at the Los Angeles Chargers. (whbl.com) The Cardinals’ official site separately said rookie quarterback Carson Beck is set to start against Carolina. That gives Arizona another first-year player to evaluate in game conditions even with Love held back. ### When is Love’s next chance to debut? Thursday’s absence leaves Love waiting for one of Arizona’s remaining three preseason games. Bleacher Report said his debut will have to wait “at least one more week,” and Arizona Sports said the Cardinals’ regular-season opener is scheduled for September 13 against the Chargers. (arizonasports.com) (azcardinals.com) August 6 is still the start of Arizona’s preseason schedule, with Carolina on the other sideline in Canton. Love’s next chance to appear will come after that opener, when the Cardinals move deeper into preseason preparations before Week 1. (profootballhof.com) (bleacherreport.com)