The Arizona Cardinals' brutal 2026 schedule opens with a difficult road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The matchup at SoFi Stadium is slated for Sunday, September 13, with a 1:25 p.m. PT kickoff.
The Cardinals will look to get off to a better start to improve upon an underwhelming three-win season, though they could be in for another long year. Meanwhile, the Chargers can't be content with their 11-win season as they aspire to become genuine contenders in the Justin Herbert era.
With the two teams trending in opposite directions, this is quite the uphill battle for Arizona. They'll need these injuries and storylines to work in their favor to have a shot at pulling off the Week 1 upset.
How to watch Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Here are a few ways to watch the Cardinals game:
- CBS
- Paramount+
- YouTube TV
- NFL+
- azcardinals.com
- Arizona Cardinals mobile app
Cardinals injury report
Headlining the injury report for Arizona is rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle). The Cardinals' steep draft investment is listed as questionable and is expected to be a game-time decision as he looks to return from a high-ankle sprain suffered in his preseason debut.
There's reason for optimism as ESPN's Josh Weinfuss reports Love is ultimately expected to play. Still, it's fair to wonder whether head coach Mike LaFleur will have any restrictions on Love, who is listed as the RB2 behind Tyler Allgeier.
Besides Love, other notable injuries for the Cardinals include Isaiah Adams, Garrett Williams, and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, all of whom have been ruled out.
Arizona will be hurting at right guard, seeing as second-round rookie Chase Bisontis is already on IR with a torn MCL. Jon Gaines is now expected to start in place of Adams.
Chargers injury report
As if the Cardinals needed any other disadvantages heading into this contest, the Chargers enter the 2026 season relatively healthier. Brenen Thompson, Keaton Mitchell, RJ Mickens and Khalil Mack have all recovered from their respective injuries and are active.
Cornerback Deane Leonard (abdominal) is out, while edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu (hip) is questionable. Linebacker Denzel Perryman is out for at least four games after the Chargers placed him on IR following an unspecified left knee injury.
Storylines
The Cardinals look to start a new era under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur and, hopefully, No. 3 overall pick Love should he ultimately suit up. The offense should continue to revolve around elite tight end Trey McBride, but look for Arizona to find a better balance with their run game in 2026.
Game script could force their hand. But for Arizona to pull off the upset, they'll have to keep it to a one-possession game and within reach to hopefully pull it off at the end. That means controlling the clock with a revamped rushing attack. Can their defense hold up enough to keep the run game a viable option?
Similarly, the Chargers are undergoing an offensive transformation under offensive guru Mike McDaniel. With the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel was great at getting the ball to his playmakers (De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle) out in space.
While he doesn't have quite the same level of elite weapons in Los Angeles, he's also never had a quarterback as good as Justin Herbert to work with. Herbert has historically carved up this Cardinals defense in the past, and it could be more of the same in Week 1.
Prediction
The Cardinals are heavy underdogs on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Chargers currently favored by 9.5 points with an over/under of 47.5 points.
The Cardinals may have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Chargers, but defense remains a major concern from last season. Combine that with a road matchup against a healthier team, and a single-digit loss should be considered a moral victory in this one.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Cardinals 17
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