Sources: Cards rookie Love headed to IR, out 4-5 weeks with high ankle sprain

The Arizona Cardinals will place rookie running back Jeremiyah Love on injured reserve because of a high ankle sprain, sidelining the third overall pick for four to five weeks, sources told NFL Network.

Love hurt the ankle in the first half of Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. He walked off the field under his own power, slammed his helmet on the sideline in frustration, and was examined by trainers before heading to the locker room. He did not return.

Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said Monday that the injury involves a different part of the ankle than the issues that troubled Love during the preseason. "It's a new portion of the ankle," LaFleur said. "So, I'll keep it at that."

It has been a frustrating start for the rookie. Love has rushed for 268 yards and one touchdown across six games this season, never staying healthy long enough to flash the explosiveness that made him the No. 3 pick in the draft.

Veteran Tyler Allgeier stepped in as Arizona's lead back on Sunday and made the most of the opportunity, piling up 191 yards from scrimmage and finding the end zone. His performance could shape how the Cardinals divide carries once Love is eligible to return.

The loss stings for an Arizona team trying to stay relevant in the NFC West. High ankle sprains can linger, but the four-to-five-week timeline leaves the door open for a late-season return — if the Cardinals are still in the race.