Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) underwent season-ending surgery on Monday after suffering a significant right ankle injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Conner was carted off with his ankle immobilized, and head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed he won't return this season. With Conner sidelined, the Cardinals will turn to second-year back Trey Benson, who has been highly efficient, averaging 6.0 yards per carry (second among RBs). Gannon praised Benson before the season, noting he viewed both Conner and Benson as capable starters. Benson now projects as the lead option in Arizona's backfield, while Emari Demercado is expected to mix in behind him.
Sep 22, 2025 6:34 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) is officially set to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering a severe ankle injury in Week 3. Conner is undergoing additional tests on Monday to determine the exact extent of the injury, but will definitely undergo surgery, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 30-year-old running back will finish 2025 with 133 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 40 total touches. Cardinals second-year back Trey Benson should be in line for a major workload increase and profiles as the number one waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he is available heading into Week 4. Arizona running back Emari Demercado could also play a role as the team's passing-downs back and could have some deep-league fantasy appeal.
Sep 22, 2025 10:26 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) suffered a gruesome ankle injury during his team's Week 3 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. According to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, a source told him that they "assume" Conner's ankle injury is severe enough to end his season, but "an official prognosis hasn't been made yet." If Conner is indeed looking at a season-ending injury, second-year running back Trey Benson would be in line for a significantly expanded role in Arizona. Benson finished Week 3 with 51 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches. Running back Emari Demercado could also factor into the backfield mix for the Cardinals.
Sep 21, 2025 9:27 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Conner took an ugly tackle on a one-yard run during the third quarter. He immediately grabbed his right leg after the play. Conner needed to be carted off the field, which is never a good sign. He'll finish this game with 22 yards on nine rushing attempts while hauling in three receptions for 15 yards through the air. This looked like a brutal multi-week injury, but more information should be known after further testing is done. For now, Trey Benson will step up and be asked to take on a larger role on offense.
Sep 21, 2025 6:22 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner saw his snap share shrink a bit more in Week 2 from 65% to 55%. A two-yard rushing touchdown salvaged his week as he finished as the RB24 in half-PPR formats, but he could only muster 34 yards on 11 carries. The Panthers are ranked 26th against the run through two weeks, which doesn't provide anyone any confidence when their Week 3 opponent is ranked 13th. On top of that, this is the San Francisco 49ers' home opener, so they should come out with some added motivation. With the combination of a tough defense and Trey Benson getting most of the passing work, Conner projects to be around a mid-level RB2 this week.
Sep 19, 2025 9:51 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner salvaged his fantasy week against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 with a four-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter. Outside of that, he saw 12 carries for only 39 yards while Trey Benson took eight carries for 69 yards. We may have finally hit the timeline where Benson takes more and more touches away from Conner. The good news, for both backs, is that they're going up against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. They just gave up 143 yards to Travis Etienne and 200 rushing yards overall. So, even though Benson will likely get some more opportunities, Conner remains an RB2 given that he sticks as the number-one guy in the backfield.
Sep 13, 2025 9:41 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner did not have an efficient game, but did score a touchdown in his team's 20-13 Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Conner rushed for 39 yards on 12 attempts and added four catches for five yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Notably, second-year Cardinals running back Trey Benson was much more successful as a rusher, finishing with 69 yards on eight carries. Arizona may feature Benson more heavily in 2025, especially given that Conner is now 30 years old. The veteran still figures to be his team's goal-line back, but the workload split between Conner and Benson is one for fantasy managers to monitor closely in the coming weeks.
Sep 8, 2025 10:21 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner has quietly built a solid career as he enters year number nine in the NFL. The former Pitt Panther is only 30 yards away from 6,000 and one touchdown shy of 60, which he could reach in the first week of the season, making him the 55th running back in NFL history to reach those marks (fifth on the active RB list). To open up the 2025 season, the Cardinals take on the New Orleans Saints, who finished as the D/ST22 last season and come into this year projected as the D/ST23. Conner should be able to find some running room and will likely continue to receive red zone touches despite Trey Benson being projected to get some more work. RotoBaller's rankers have him projected as the RB19 this year with a very enticing 17 fantasy point prediction in Week 1.
Sep 6, 2025 10:06 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) took part in voluntary organized team activities on Wednesday. "I'm ready," Conner said. "We ain't doing this forever." Conner injured his right knee in Week 16 of last year and had six touches before being pulled in Week 17. The Cardinals placed him on Injured Reserve for the Week 18 regular-season finale, but the 30-year-old veteran appears to be fine now and ready to go for the start of the 2025 season this fall. He racked up a career-high 1,518 scrimmage yards on 236 carries while catching 47 of 55 targets in 2024. It was the healthiest Conner had been in his career, so fantasy managers definitely should expect some more missed time given his age and physical running style. For now, he's still being considered a workhorse back in Arizona, but more injuries could give Trey Benson more of a role eventually.
May 29, 2025 1:04 PM EST
According to the team, the Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) was placed on injured reserve, which will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, Michael Carter was promoted to the active roster. Conner suffered a knee injury during their Week 16 loss to the Carolina Panthers and was listed as questionable leading up to their Week 17 tilt against the Rams. Conner was able to suit up in this contest but exited the game after just 12 offensive snaps. In this game, Conner ran the ball just four times for four yards and brought in two receptions for four yards. Rookie Trey Benson (ankle) is also on injured reserve, which will leave DeeJay Dallas and now Michael Carter as the lone backs for their final game. Carter saw the most work when Conner exited both games, which suggests he will be the lead option on Sunday afternoon.
Jan 1, 2025 4:15 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Conner injured his knee in the Week 17 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams last Saturday and never returned, and the 29-year-old's 2024 season will come to an end a week early. With rookie Trey Benson (ankle) going on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, the Cardinals backfield will now consist of some sort of timeshare between DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter in a meaningless Week 18 contest against San Francisco in which both teams could be sitting some banged-up starters. Despite Arizona not making the playoffs, Conner was the RB10 in half-PPR scoring through 17 weeks in 2024, recording 1,094 rushing yards and eight TDs on 236 carries while adding 47 catches for 414 yards and one TD.
Jan 1, 2025 12:07 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) never returned to the game after re-injuring his knee in the first quarter. It appeared as though Conner got twisted up on during a fourth-down rushing attempt in the first quarter. After that run, we saw Conner being attended to on the sideline by athletic trainers, and he never re-entered the game. Conner ended the game with just four carries for four yards and two receptions for four receiving yards. This caps a tough ending to the season for James Conner's fantasy managers, and his status for Week 18 is up in the air. Given that the Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention, it may be an uphill battle for Conner to play in Week 18 when the Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers.
Dec 29, 2024 1:22 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is questionable to return to Saturday night's meeting with the Los Angeles Rams. The 29-year-old came into this weekend battling through a knee injury he picked up in Week 16's loss to the Carolina Panthers and apparently isn't entirely over it. Per the broadcast, he's available on the sidelines to reenter the contest. Conner gained four yards on four carries and another four through the air on 2-of-3 receiving before his exit. Backfield mate Michael Carter figures to handle most of the backfield touches with the veteran out of the lineup. DeeJay Dallas could mix in as a change of pace behind him.
Dec 28, 2024 9:38 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) has been upgraded to active ahead of Saturday's Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Conner was questionable coming into this game after suffering a knee injury during last week's loss. He's ready to go now and could see a heavier workload with backup back Trey Benson (ankle) on the sideline. Conner has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his last two games. The Rams defense has struggled to contain the run this season, but it's also unclear if the knee issue is going to impact Conner at all. Fantasy managers should consider Conner a high-end RB2 for this contest.
Dec 28, 2024 6:54 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is expected to play against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Conner picked up the injury during last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers in which he totaled 117 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Rapoport notes that it's encouraging to see Conner suit up with the Cardinals already eliminated from playoff contention, but he'll be playing at less than 100 percent on Saturday. As a result, he might drop to the RB2 tier in fantasy football. At the same time, Trey Benson (ankle), who is also listed as questionable, could earn additional opportunities out of the backfield.
Dec 28, 2024 9:02 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Week 16 and is officially listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams. However, he is trending in the right direction to suit up on Saturday. Although it is great news he is trending in the right direction to play, fantasy managers might want to limit their expectations as the Cardinals were knocked out of the playoffs with their loss last week, as the knee injury he is dealing with could limit Conner's effectiveness and volume. Regardless, Conner has treated fantasy managers excellently this year. Producing as the RB10 with 1,090 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns on the season. This week, Conner can be started as an RB2 with upside if he's active.
Dec 27, 2024 12:19 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The lead back sustained the injury during last weekend's game against the Carolina Panthers. Conner remained a limited participant during practice, which is a promising sign. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to kickoff as No.2 running back Trey Benson (ankle) is also listed as questionable. Over his past three games, Conner has averaged an impressive 26.5 PPR points per game and found the end zone four times over this stretch. If Conner is active, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him in all formats as an RB2. If both Conner and Benson cannot play, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas would operate in a committee and are viable flex options.
Dec 26, 2024 5:00 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) has been making "good" progress since suffering a knee injury in last week's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. However, Gannon said he's unsure if he'll know the statuses of both Conner and rookie Trey Benson (ankle) by Thursday or if they'll be game-time decisions for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Both Conner and Benson have been limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is a good sign, but with the Cardinals eliminated from postseason contention, they may choose to play it on the safe side and either hold them both out or keep them limited if they suit up on Sunday. Conner should serve as Arizona's lead back if he's active in Week 17, but right now he should be considered more of a shaky RB3/flex for fantasy lineups.
Dec 26, 2024 12:20 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice. The veteran has maintained the same practice status for two days in a row; he had also been limited in Tuesday's walkthrough. The Cardinals will hold one more practice on Thursday before releasing their final injury report. If Conner can log a full session, he might be able to avoid an official injury designation. Otherwise, he could end up being listed as questionable for Week 17, which would leave his status in doubt until the Cardinals' list of inactives gets released on Saturday evening. Fantasy managers certainly hope that Conner will be able to suit up. He has remained a top fantasy option in his age-29 season, ranking as the RB9 overall with 1,090 rushing yards, 410 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. He should continue to be deployed as a top-12 fantasy running backs, assuming he suits up Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Dec 25, 2024 10:05 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) was limited at practice on Tuesday. Rookie running back Trey Benson (ankle) was also limited. Conner picked up his injury in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. There has been much speculation as to whether or not Conner would be able to play in Week 17, especially since the Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention. Conner's participation in practice in any capacity on Tuesday is a very encouraging sign for his availability this weekend. Benson missed Week 16 with his ankle injury. His availability on Sunday would be a great sight for depth behind Conner or for Benson's standalone value. Conner has been on fire lately. He has rushed for 90 or more yards and scored a touchdown in three straight games. Fantasy managers have been riding Conner all the way to championship weekend as a result. Conner has rushed for his second 1,000-yard season in 2024. He has also caught 45 passes for 410 yards. If Conner is active this weekend, he should pick up where he left off in Week 16 when the Cardinals face the Los Angeles Rams.
Dec 24, 2024 6:25 PM EST
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