Arizona Cardinals Keep rookie RB Jeremiyah Love out of Hall of Fame preseason game

The Arizona Cardinals will open their 2026 preseason with the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers on August 6, but head coach Mike LaFleur announced that top draft pick running back Jeremiyah Love will not suit up. LaFleur said Love is among roughly 30 players sitting out the contest, pushing his first appearance to the next preseason matchup on August 13 versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

Love was selected third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft out of the University of Notre Dame, where he posted 6.9 yards per carry and 40 touchdowns in 28 games. While his athletic profile – a 4.36‑second 40‑yard dash and 210‑pound frame – has generated fantasy‑football buzz, the Cardinals already feature established backs James Conner, Tyler Allgeier and newcomer Trey Benson (who is dealing with an injury), suggesting Love’s workload will be limited early in the season.