Jeremiyah Love’s High Ankle Sprain: When an Ankle Injury Needs a Specialist

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love made headlines after his first preseason appearance for two reasons: a strong performance, followed by a reported high ankle sprain. NFL and CBS Sports coverage published August 17, 2026, reported that Love was injured on his final touch of the preseason game, is unlikely to play again this preseason, and that the Cardinals are hopeful he can return for Week 1.

That news is a useful reminder for athletes and active adults across Southwest Florida: a high ankle sprain is not the same as a routine ankle roll. It can cause less visible swelling than a typical outer-ankle sprain, yet still make walking, push-off, stairs, golf, pickleball, and running surprisingly difficult. Prompt evaluation matters because the treatment and recovery plan depend on whether the ankle is stable.

This article explains what has been publicly reported about Love’s injury, what a high ankle sprain means clinically, and when to see a Naples podiatrist for ankle pain.

What Was Reported About Jeremiyah Love’s Injury

According to public reporting, Love suffered a high ankle sprain late in his preseason debut. The Cardinals subsequently planned to hold him out of practice for the week and out of the next preseason game. Reports did not provide private imaging results, a specific ligament grade, or a detailed treatment plan. Those details properly remain between the athlete and his medical team.

What is clear is the diagnosis: a high ankle sprain, also called a syndesmotic ankle sprain. It involves a different ligament group from the more familiar sprain on the outside of the ankle. It is also a condition that often takes longer to recover from than people expect.

What Is a High Ankle Sprain?

The ankle joint is supported by several groups of ligaments. A common lateral ankle sprain usually affects ligaments on the outside of the ankle after the foot rolls inward. A high ankle sprain affects the syndesmosis: the strong ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula, the two lower-leg bones, just above the ankle joint.

These ligaments help keep the ankle stable while the foot pushes off the ground. When the foot is planted and forced outward, or the ankle is driven upward and twisted, the syndesmosis can stretch or tear. This is common in football, soccer, basketball, court sports, falls, and awkward pivots. A tackle or another player’s weight against a planted foot can create the same motion.

For a patient, the important point is simple: pain located above the ankle joint after a twist or collision deserves more attention than a routine “walk it off” injury.

High Ankle Sprain Symptoms

Symptoms vary with the severity of the injury, but a high ankle sprain commonly causes:

• Pain above the ankle joint, sometimes between the lower-leg bones
• Pain when pushing off the toes, climbing stairs, or rotating the foot outward
• Difficulty running, cutting, lunging, or changing direction
• Swelling or bruising, although it may be less dramatic than a standard ankle sprain
• A feeling that the ankle is weak or unstable
• Pain that persists even when a person can initially walk on the foot

Many active adults in Naples, Fort Myers, and Sarasota make the mistake of judging an injury only by swelling. A high ankle sprain can look manageable at first but become more painful with every push-off. That is why golfers, runners, and pickleball players should not use the ability to take a few steps as proof that the injury is minor.

How a Podiatrist Diagnoses a High Ankle Sprain

A board-certified podiatrist starts with the injury story: how the ankle moved, whether the foot was planted, where the pain is located, and whether weight-bearing is getting harder. The physical exam checks for tenderness along the syndesmosis and uses carefully controlled stress tests to assess stability.

Imaging may be needed. X-rays can identify a fracture, alignment problem, or widening at the ankle joint. A normal X-ray does not always rule out ligament injury. When the examination suggests a significant syndesmotic injury, MRI or other imaging may be used to look more closely at the ligaments and surrounding tissues.

This distinction matters. An athlete may have a stable sprain that improves with protection and rehabilitation, or an unstable injury that needs a more involved treatment plan. Trying to decide that solely from an online checklist can delay recovery.

High Ankle Sprain Treatment: From Protection to Return to Activity

Treatment is based on the injury’s severity, stability, activity goals, and any related fracture or tendon injury. It is not based on how motivated someone is to get back on the course or court.

Early treatment

For the first stage, the priorities are protecting the ankle and controlling pain and swelling. A podiatrist may recommend activity restriction, elevation, ice as directed, compression when appropriate, and a walking boot or brace. Crutches may be necessary if putting weight on the foot is painful. Avoid testing the injury with a quick round of golf, a jog, or a pickleball game; repeated twisting can aggravate an unstable ankle.

Non-surgical care

Many stable high ankle sprains heal without surgery. Treatment can include a period of immobilization or protected weight-bearing followed by a progressive rehabilitation plan. Rehabilitation typically focuses on restoring ankle motion, calf and lower-leg strength, balance, and safe push-off mechanics. The final phase introduces sport-specific movements such as walking uneven ground, turning, lateral movement, or a gradual return to running.

Return should be based on function, not a date on the calendar. Pain-free walking, adequate strength, stable balance, and the ability to perform the movements required for the activity are more useful milestones than simply waiting a certain number of weeks.

When surgery may be considered

Surgery may be considered when the syndesmosis is unstable, the lower-leg bones have separated at the ankle joint, or conservative treatment does not restore stability. The goal is to restore normal alignment so the joint can move safely and cartilage is protected. Surgical decisions require individualized imaging, examination findings, and discussion with a foot and ankle specialist.

Why a High Ankle Sprain Can Linger

The syndesmosis is stressed during nearly every push-off. That is why a person may feel reasonably comfortable standing still but hurt sharply when taking a longer stride, going downstairs, swinging through a golf shot, or accelerating toward a ball. Returning too early can leave the ankle weak, unstable, and more likely to be reinjured.

Foot mechanics matter after the initial healing phase as well. For some patients, a brace, better footwear, or custom orthotics can help manage forces through the foot and ankle during return to activity. These options are not a substitute for diagnosing the injury, but they can be part of a complete plan when appropriate.

When to Seek Same-Day Ankle Care

Contact a foot and ankle specialist promptly after an injury if there is:

• Inability to take four steps without substantial pain
• Pain above the ankle joint or worsening pain with push-off
• Visible deformity, significant swelling, or rapidly spreading bruising
• Numbness, cold toes, or a change in foot color
• Repeated ankle giving-way or a painful pop at the time of injury
• Symptoms that have not meaningfully improved after a few days of rest

Patients with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy, or a foot wound should be evaluated particularly quickly after an injury. Swelling, skin breakdown, and altered sensation can make a simple-looking problem more serious.

High Ankle Sprain Care at Family Foot & Leg Center

Family Foot & Leg Center, PA provides specialist foot and ankle care for patients from Marco Island to Sarasota. FFLC’s board-certified podiatrists evaluate acute ankle injuries, help determine whether imaging is needed, and build a practical plan for recovery. The team treats foot and ankle trauma and urgent care needs, along with custom orthotics, heel pain, bunion surgery, diabetic wound care, and shockwave therapy when clinically appropriate.

Quick access to a foot and ankle specialist is especially valuable after a fall, a sports injury, or a bad step on uneven ground. Same-day appointments are available when possible, and FFLC offers 24/7 self-service scheduling. Whether the goal is returning to pickleball, staying comfortable through a golf season, or simply walking without pain, the right diagnosis is the first step.

Schedule an Appointment at FFLC

Jeremiyah Love’s reported high ankle sprain is a timely example of why ankle injuries should not be dismissed based on appearances alone. If pain is above the ankle, push-off hurts, or an ankle injury is not improving, get a focused evaluation from a foot and ankle specialist.

Schedule an appointment at FFLC online or call 239-430-3668 for 24/7 appointment support.