Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft, has flashed — such as on a 5-yard score in the opener that required him to bounce outside and beat Chargers cornerback Cam Hart to the pylon — but he’s hardly lit up the stat sheet. 

The 21-year-old has 70 yards on 20 carries through two games, good for just a 3.5 yards-per-carry average. He’s also added five receptions for 25 yards. 

It was a much different story at Notre Dame. An All-American with the Irish, Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry in each of his final two collegiate seasons. He eclipsed 95 scrimmage yards, the combined total he has through two professional outings, in nine of 12 contests during his final year, with 21 total touchdowns.

That’s the challenge that comes with the jump from college to the pros, though, and even if Love is taking time to settle in, there will be brighter skies ahead for the rookie.

He saw most of his first preseason wiped away by an ankle injury, and he’s rightfully split time with bruiser Tyler Allgeier while getting back up to speed. Love has been on the field for 41.6 percent of Arizona’s offensive snaps. Plus, his comments about the down week came after facing a suffocating Seahawks defense that is equaled by few other units in the NFL. 

Love’s next opportunity to go crazy comes Sunday against another divisional opponent, the 49ers. He’ll look to get back to his standard facing a defensive front that’s been decimated by injuries, a situation headlined by Nick Bosa suffering a multi-week calf injury while warming up for Thursday’s practice. 

Love will also get a chance to see an opposing ball-carrier he aspires to be like: three-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.

“I hope to make that same impact with my team,” Love said. “I want to go out there and do the same things he does.

“I want to be similar to Christian McCaffrey but also have my own touch to it.”

With any luck, he’ll put on the best game of his young career as CMC watches from the opposite sideline.