Cardinals rule RB Jeremiyah Love out of Hall of Fame Game

Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love will not make his NFL debut in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, coach Mike LaFleur said on Wednesday. The decision keeps Arizona’s top draft pick out of the league’s preseason opener in Canton, Ohio, and delays his first game action by at least a week. The Cardinals and Panthers are scheduled to kick off the 2026 preseason at 8 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. ### Who said Love would sit out? Mike LaFleur told reporters on August 5 that Love would not play against Carolina, according to Arizona Sports and other reports from the team’s media availability. Cards Wire, part of the USA Today Network, also reported that Love was among the Cardinals players ruled out for the game. (arizonasports.com) Bleacher Report said Love’s professional debut would “have to wait at least one more week” after LaFleur’s announcement. That timeline reflects Arizona’s unusual four-game preseason schedule because the Hall of Fame Game adds an extra exhibition. ### Why does one missed preseason game push his debut only one week? (arizonasports.com) The Cardinals’ next preseason game is scheduled for August 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, Bleacher Report reported. Because Hall of Fame Game teams play four preseason games instead of the usual three, sitting out Thursday does not necessarily affect Love’s availability for the rest of August. (bleacherreport.com) The Hall of Fame Game is the NFL’s annual preseason opener, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame said this year’s matchup begins the league’s 107th season. The game is being played in Canton as part of the Hall’s enshrinement week. ### What is Arizona giving up by holding him out? Jeremiyah Love entered camp as one of Arizona’s most closely watched rookies, and Thursday would have been his first live NFL game action. (bleacherreport.com) Yahoo Sports reported that fans would have to wait longer for his debut, while Arizona Sports said the rookie would not play Thursday night after LaFleur’s update. (profootballhof.com) Sports Illustrated, citing LaFleur, reported that the coach had “seen enough” from the rookie running back during camp work to keep him out of the opener. That explanation was reported by SI, not stated in the Cardinals’ formal game listing in the material reviewed here. ### What else is set for Thursday night in Canton? (sports.yahoo.com) The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Arizona will face Carolina at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, August 6. Yahoo Sports and other game previews listed kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, with NBC carrying the game nationally and Peacock streaming it. (si.com) NFL.com reported earlier this year that the Panthers and Cardinals were chosen for the annual exhibition to open the preseason. The game comes before the rest of the league begins preseason play later in August. ### When could Love make his first appearance? August 13 is the next concrete date on Love’s preseason calendar, with Arizona set to visit the Raiders in Las Vegas, according to Bleacher Report. (profootballhof.com) Unless the Cardinals provide a new update before then, that game is the earliest chance for Love’s first appearance in an NFL uniform. (bleacherreport.com) (nfl.com)