TEMPE, Ariz. -- After dealing with a high ankle sprain since Aug. 13 that caused him to miss three weeks of practice, Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Jeremiyah Love is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, a source told ESPN.
Love is officially listed as questionable on Friday's injury report, though coach Mike LaFleur suggested the rookie running back would be a game-time decision.
"Still got another good day of work today to kind of figure that out, but he's trending well," LaFleur said.
Love suffered the injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Arizona's second preseason game. He said Thursday that the injury is "getting better every day," adding that he started rehabbing his ankle as soon as he injured it and that he turned down a walking boot after team trainers suggested he wear it.
"I've always been trying to just do more than what they want me to do," Love said. "When I first injured it, they wanted to put me in a boot, and I'm like, 'Nah, I just want to walk around. I want to feel it out and do my own thing.' But them being trainers, they know what's best.
"So I kind of push myself all the time. So throughout this whole process of dealing with this high ankle, I've always just been pushing myself, getting extra work and just trying to do the right things."
Love said he'll be "excited" if he gets to play Sunday in his first NFL game and not nervous.
"Just excited to get out there and do it with the boys and just display what I can do," he said.
Cardinals running backs coach Matt Merritt says he just wants Love to be himself if he's ready to go Sunday.
"Whenever that time comes, just for him to play within himself, not to force anything, he's obviously going to be excited, just kind of keeping him grounded, confident, just playing one play at a time," Merritt said. "So just operate at a high level, do the little things right and let his talent take over."
