Cardinals' James Conner suffers season-ending ankle injury

The Arizona Cardinals walked away from Santa Clara with more than just a loss on the scoreboard.

According to ESPN, James Conner’s injury is serious enough that it’s already being labeled season-ending.

Conner isn’t simply an important cog in the Cardinals’ offense—regardless of how this year’s results are judged—but also the emotional heartbeat and driving force of the locker room.

With Conner sidelined, the next man up for Arizona is clear: Trey Benson. The second-year back had already been flashing promise in limited action, averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry on 11 rushes for 83 yards over the first two weeks. Conner had logged nine carries for just 22 yards before going down, and it felt like Benson was inching toward the starting role anyway—this injury just accelerates that timeline. In Week 3, Benson closed with 10 carries for 42 yards along with three receptions for nine yards, totaling 6.6 fantasy points.

For fantasy managers, Benson is the name to grab. If you rostered Conner without stashing him, hopefully your depth can absorb the hit—but if Benson’s still floating on waivers, he’s worth a priority add. Emari Demercado is the next man in the rotation and could earn some touches, while the Cardinals may consider reinforcements. Michael Carter, who played in three games last year, remains on the practice squad and is a candidate to be elevated.

Looking ahead, Benson shapes up as a reliable RB2 or FLEX option for the rest of the season. His ceiling will depend on how well he adjusts to handling the lion’s share of the workload, but given the opportunity in front of him, he’s well-positioned to thrive.

Before leaving the game, the 30-year-old Conner logged nine carries for 22 yards, with the injury occurring on what was his longest run since opening week.

The veteran back was fresh off consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns—the first such stretch of his career. Conner inked a two-year extension in November 2024, keeping him tied to Arizona through 2026, with his $3.64 million base salary this season protected under injury guarantees.

With Conner sidelined, Trey Benson is set to take over as the feature back, with Emari Demercado and Bam Knight next in line. The Cardinals also have Michael Carter waiting on the practice squad, after he posted 131 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries last year.