Jeremiyah Love Heads to IR With High Ankle Sprain

Jeremiyah Love's rookie season just took another hit. The Cardinals are placing the No. 3 overall pick on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain that's expected to keep him out four to five weeks, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

That's a gut punch for Arizona, which finally has some life after an overtime win in Dallas. The Cardinals are 3-5 and heading to Seattle on Sunday, and they'll do it without the back they drafted to be the face of the offense. Love will miss at least four games while he's on IR.

This Wasn't the Same Ankle Problem

Love walked off in the first half Sunday against the Cowboys and slammed his helmet on the sideline. He went into the blue medical tent and later walked to the locker room.

The frustrating part is the history. Love had already dealt with a sprain in each ankle, one in the second preseason game against the Raiders and another early in the season. Coach Mike LaFleur said this one isn't related. "It's a new portion of the ankle," LaFleur said Monday. "So, I'll keep it at that."

The numbers tell you how hard this year has been on him. Love has 268 rushing yards and one touchdown in six games. That's not what anyone pictured from the Notre Dame star when Arizona took him third overall in April, and it's not because of a lack of talent. He just hasn't been healthy.

Tyler Allgeier Takes Over

Here's the good news for Cardinals fans: the guy filling in just had a monster day. Tyler Allgeier took over as the lead back after Love went down in Dallas and piled up 191 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the 33-30 overtime win.

Allgeier's a veteran who knows how to carry a workload, and he showed Sunday that the offense doesn't have to stall without Love. With Love out for at least a month, Allgeier's the No. 1 back by default, and nobody in that building is going to argue after that performance.

What's Next for Arizona

The Cardinals visit the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1:25 PM PT. Seattle's coming off a 34-17 Monday night loss to the Bears and sits at 4-4, so both teams are fighting to stay in the NFC West picture.

A four-to-five-week timeline puts Love's return somewhere around early December, which would line up with a stretch that includes the Commanders and Eagles at home. Arizona will want him back fresh for that run, not rushed.

The Smacktok lean: Allgeier was the man in Dallas with 191 scrimmage yards and two scores, and now the job is his alone. We're leaning higher on Allgeier's rushing yards in Seattle.