3 minSports
Jeremiyah Love Scores Touchdown on First Career Drive for Cardinals
Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love scored a touchdown on his first career drive, helping the Arizona Cardinals take an early lead against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.
Jeremiyah Love needed only one drive to make his presence felt in the NFL. The rookie running back scored a touchdown on his first career possession, capping a 70-yard opening drive that gave the Arizona Cardinals an early lead over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
On second-and-goal from the Chargers' five-yard line, Love took a handoff from quarterback Jacoby Brissett, bounced out to his left, and found a lane to the left pylon. He outraced a closing defender to the corner and crossed the goal line for his first career score, a play that immediately validated the Cardinals' decision to select him third overall in April out of Notre Dame.
The touchdown capped a statement drive for Arizona, which entered the game as underdogs against the Chargers. First-year head coach Mike LaFleur was visibly enthusiastic on the sideline after the score, celebrating with his players, including Love. The rookie's explosive run was exactly the kind of play the Cardinals envisioned when they made him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL before he had taken a single regular-season snap.
Love's selection at No. 3 overall drew scrutiny at the time. Arizona is a rebuilding team that fired former head coach Jonathan Gannon and hired LaFleur to get the franchise back on track. Some observers questioned whether using such a premium pick on a running back signaled a belief that the Cardinals were one offensive weapon away from playoff contention, especially given the team's needs on both sides of the ball. But Love's stellar collegiate career at Notre Dame made him one of the most dynamic playmakers in the draft, and his rookie contract gave him the most guaranteed money ever for a running back before taking an NFL snap.
There were also questions about how much Love would play in Week 1 after he dealt with an ankle injury throughout training camp. As of halftime, with Arizona leading 13-7, Love was splitting carries with veteran Tyler Allgeier, whom the Cardinals signed as a free agent this offseason. That timeshare is expected to continue at least early in the season, but Love's explosive abilities were evident immediately.
For a rebuilding Cardinals team, Love's debut offered a glimpse of the offensive spark the franchise hopes will define its future. His first career touchdown not only gave Arizona an early advantage but also signaled that the rookie running back is ready to make an impact from the very first drive of his NFL career.
