Arizona Opens a New Season With the Same Unresolved Questions Up Front

Jeremiyah Love was limited in practice this week, still working through the high-ankle sprain he suffered in the preseason. Coach Mike LaFleur said on September 7 that he expects Love to play against the Chargers, and that optimism is worth something — but limited practice reps for a rookie who hasn't taken a regular-season snap yet is not the ideal runway. The backfield behind him is thin. James Conner landed on injured reserve before Week 1, Trey Benson was waived, and Corey Kiner was traded to New England. The depth chart at running back is essentially being built in real time.

The offensive line situation is quieter but no less unsettled. Isaiah Adams remains in legal jeopardy from a guns and gangs investigation, and his availability is unresolved. Chase Bisontis is already lost for the season with a torn MCL from the preseason. The good news is that Hjalte Froholdt is locked in at center on a new two-year deal, and the line isn't starting from scratch. But Adams was the third option on the depth chart, and when your third option is unavailable, the margin for injury elsewhere shrinks fast.

These aren't new problems — I've been tracking the backfield situation since Love went down in August, and the Adams uncertainty has hung over the roster all summer. What's different now is that the games count. Arizona is trying to rebuild from a 3-14 collapse, and the first test comes against the Chargers with two of the more fragile spots on the roster still unresolved heading into kickoff.