The Arizona Cardinals continue to wait for reinforcements in their backfield as they approach Week 12. Trey Benson has now missed six games and seven weeks due to his knee injury. When might fantasy football managers finally see Benson return to action?
Trey Benson Injury Update
Benson has been sidelined for over seven weeks since sustaining his knee injury during Arizona’s Week 4 matchup against Seattle. The issue was initially thought to be minor, but additional testing revealed a meniscus tear that required surgery. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Benson underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair the tear, with a projected recovery window of four to six weeks.​
The sophomore was placed on injured reserve on October 1, making him ineligible to return for at least four games under league rules. Benson became eligible for activation following Week 9, but Arizona has not opened his 21-day practice window.​
Head coach Jonathan Gannon provided a vague update on Benson’s recovery status last week. Gannon said that Benson is “taking it day by day”. That is the only update the Cardinals have provided.​
Evidently, the four-to-six week timeline was inaccurate, as we are now past the longer end of it and Benson does not appear close to a return. There have been no indications the Cardinals intend to open his practice window this week. That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t, but typically reports would surface that it’s a possibility before it happens. We’ve heard no such thing.
Since being placed on IR, the Cardinals have offered minimal updates on Benson’s progress. There have been no reports of setbacks, but the team also hasn’t signaled an imminent return. The Cardinals have followed their standard conservative approach with injured players, offering little substance beyond vague statements of improvement.​
Typically, before a player is designated to return from injured reserve, reports surface indicating the player is close to practicing or has ramped up activity. The absence of such reporting regarding Benson suggests the Cardinals aren’t preparing for his immediate return.​
The team’s long-term perspective for Benson, who represents a key component of their offensive future, likely outweighs any short-term benefit of rushing him back without proper preparation. Fantasy managers should not expect Benson to play in Week 12.​
Benson Fantasy Outlook
Benson’s return can’t come soon enough for a Cardinals offense that’s struggled to find consistency since his injury. During his absence, Arizona has cycled through multiple running backs, creating an unreliable committee with limited fantasy value.​ Emari Demercado and Bam Knight will continue splitting this backfield until Benson is ready.
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Before getting hurt, Benson had been trending upward, accumulating 29 carries for 160 yards and 13 receptions for 64 yards through four games. He delivered efficient production on a per-touch basis and provided dual-threat capability that none of the current backs have fully replicated.​
When he does return, Benson should immediately reclaim lead-back duties. Arizona has lacked explosiveness in the running game, and Benson’s speed and burst provide him a clear advantage over the other options. Fantasy managers who’ve held him through this prolonged absence will need to remain patient a bit longer.​
Benson projects as an RB2-level starter for the fantasy stretch run once healthy and active. For now, his timeline remains tied to the Cardinals’ cautious medical approach rather than his readiness to play. The lack of practice window activation and absence of positive reporting suggest Week 13 or later represents a more realistic target for his return.
