Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur Explains Decision to Shut Down Jeremiyah Love

The Arizona Cardinals will be without No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love in Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Love, who's been dealing with a lingering ankle injury, didn't take the field for practice all week.

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur explained the decision to shut down Love when speaking to reporters on Friday.

"We felt like it wasn't improving and maybe even getting a little bit worse," LaFleur said. "At that point, it's like, if it's not improving, it's getting a little bit worse, we got to do what's right for the player."

LaFleur said the injury to Love's left ankle was first "visually" evident during Week 4's loss to the New York Giants. Love played through the injury in Week 5, notching just 22 yards on 12 carries in a loss to the Detroit Lions.

"He cuts hard," LaFleur added. "That's a superpower of his. When he's putting his left foot in the ground, it's just not right right now. And to get him to be to his best ability, it's what's right, so he can go out and perform the way that he wants. So, he can go out and, honestly, run the routes that he wants.

"To run routes and separate, you got to be able to put those feet in the ground and it's got to be deliberate, so we want to get him healed so he can do that in the pass game and in the run game."

The Cardinals, who've dropped each of their last four games, will kick off against the Rams at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.