Love Expected to Play Chargers Opener

Jeremiyah Love is expected to make his NFL debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium despite a high-ankle sprain that has lingered since Aug. 13, a source told ESPN. The Arizona Cardinals still listed the first-round running back as questionable on the final injury report after three limited practices, so fantasy managers should treat him as a true game-time lean rather than a lock.

Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET. Love has said the ankle is "getting better every day" and that he will play through whatever percentage he has if the coaches put him out there. Coach Mike LaFleur called him "trending well" while keeping the exact snap plan vague.

High ankle, limited week, expected debut

Love suffered the sprain in Arizona's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and missed about three weeks of practice. He returned as a limited participant Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. That is enough for the medical staff to green-light a debut in the eyes of league sources, but not enough to wipe the questionable tag.

Tyler Allgeier remains listed first on the unofficial depth chart and is the safer goal-line bet in Week 1. Fantasy rooms that drafted Love as an RB1 need to budget a committee. Even if Love is active, the ankle and Allgeier's presence point toward a meaningful split rather than a 20-touch runaway.

SoFi stakes for a No. 4 pick

Love was the first running back off the board in the 2026 draft and spent the summer selling pass-catching upside. Sunday is the first chance to show it against a Chargers defense that will test the ankle on every cut. Adams, Garrett Williams, and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson are out on the Cardinals defensive side, which only raises the need for Arizona's offense to stay on schedule.

Cardinals fans want the debut. Chargers fans want a rusty ankle. Friday only gave everyone a questionable tag and a source saying he is expected to play. Check the inactive list before you lock a lineup.

If Love is active, start him as a high-upside RB2/flex with Allgeier on the bench wire for goal-line insurance. If he sits, Allgeier becomes the clear Volume 1. Either way, the high-ankle story that started Aug. 13 finally hits a Sunday decision at SoFi.

Rookie debuts rarely come with clean practice weeks. Love's did not. The expectation still leans toward him lining up. That is enough for Cardinals fans to circle 4:25 and enough for fantasy managers to keep a finger on the inactive list.