Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to play today against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, despite being officially listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Love has been recovering from a high-ankle sprain suffered during the preseason, but reports Sunday morning indicate that the rookie running back is expected to make his NFL regular-season debut.
The Cardinals vs Chargers game kicks off at 4:25 PM ET today, Sunday, September 13, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Is Jeremiyah Love Playing Today vs Chargers?
Yes, Jeremiyah Love is expected to play today against the Los Angeles Chargers, barring a setback before kickoff.
The Cardinals officially listed Love as questionable because of an ankle injury, meaning his availability is not completely guaranteed until Arizona releases its inactive list.
However, Sunday morning reports indicate that Love is expected to be available for the Cardinals’ Week 1 matchup.
If active, the game would mark Love’s NFL regular-season debut.
Jeremiyah Love Injury Update
Love has been recovering from a high-ankle sprain he suffered during Arizona’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 13.
The injury created uncertainty about whether the rookie would recover in time for the beginning of the regular season.
Love returned to practice ahead of Week 1 but was limited during the week as Arizona continued to manage his ankle.
Despite the questionable designation, his progress appears to have been sufficient for the Cardinals to expect him to play against Los Angeles.
Could Jeremiyah Love Be Limited Against Chargers?
Even if Love is active, his workload could be limited in his first regular-season NFL game.
Love is returning from an ankle injury that kept him from receiving a normal workload during the final portion of the preseason.
The Cardinals could therefore ease him back into game action rather than immediately giving him a heavy number of carries.
Arizona also has Tyler Allgeier in its backfield, giving the Cardinals another option to handle carries while Love works his way back to full strength.
Love’s snap count and number of touches will be worth monitoring throughout the game.
Cardinals Running Back Depth Chart
Arizona enters Week 1 with Tyler Allgeier listed ahead of Jeremiyah Love on the running back depth chart.
That could make Allgeier the Cardinals’ primary running back against the Chargers, particularly with Love returning from injury.
However, Love remains one of Arizona’s most intriguing offensive players because of his ability as a runner and potential to develop into a significant part of the Cardinals offense.
The distribution of carries between Allgeier and Love will be one of the key offensive storylines to watch in Week 1.
When Will We Know if Jeremiyah Love Is Officially Playing?
The final confirmation should come when the Arizona Cardinals release their official inactive list approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.
Cardinals vs Chargers begins at 4:25 PM ET, meaning Arizona’s inactive list should be released at approximately 2:55 PM ET.
If Love is not included among Arizona’s inactive players, he will officially be eligible to play against Los Angeles.
Fantasy football managers should particularly watch the inactive announcement because being active does not necessarily guarantee Love will receive a normal workload.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Debut
If Love plays as expected, Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers will represent an important milestone in his career.
The former Notre Dame running back entered the NFL as one of the most intriguing young offensive players in his draft class.
His combination of speed, explosiveness and big-play ability gives Arizona another potential weapon out of the backfield.
Week 1 could provide the first indication of how the Cardinals plan to incorporate Love into their offense alongside Allgeier.
Should Fantasy Football Managers Start Jeremiyah Love?
Love’s expected availability is encouraging for fantasy football managers, but his questionable designation and potential workload limitations create additional risk.
Being cleared to play does not guarantee that Love will receive a full complement of carries.
Fantasy managers should monitor Arizona’s official inactive list and any pregame reports concerning Love’s expected workload.
Managers with safer alternatives may want to consider the possibility that Arizona gradually works Love back into action during his NFL debut.
Cardinals vs Chargers Week 1 Game Information
| Game Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers |
| Week | NFL Week 1 |
| Date | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 4:25 PM ET |
| Stadium | SoFi Stadium |
| Location | Inglewood, California |
| Jeremiyah Love Status | Questionable |
| Injury | Ankle |
| Expected to Play? | Yes |
What Time Is Cardinals vs Chargers Today?
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers kick off at 4:25 PM ET today.
For viewers across the United States, kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 PM Eastern, 3:25 PM Central, 2:25 PM Mountain and 1:25 PM Pacific.
The matchup serves as the regular-season opener for both teams.
Final Jeremiyah Love Status vs Chargers
As of Sunday morning, Jeremiyah Love is expected to play for the Arizona Cardinals against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.
Love remains officially questionable because of his ankle injury, so fantasy managers and Cardinals fans should still monitor Arizona’s inactive list before kickoff.
Barring a pregame setback, however, Love is expected to make his NFL regular-season debut Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.
The biggest question may not be whether Love plays, but how large of a workload the Cardinals are willing to give their rookie running back in his first game back from the ankle injury.