The Arizona Cardinals continue to wait for reinforcements in their backfield as they approach Week 15. Trey Benson has not played since Week 5 due to a knee injury. Is it time for fantasy football managers to accept that Benson won’t be playing again this season?
Trey Benson Injury Update
Benson has been sidelined for over 10 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. Benson underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair the tear, with a projected recovery window of four to six weeks.​
The second-year running back was placed on injured reserve on October 1. Benson became eligible for activation following Week 9, but Arizona did not open his 21-day practice window until Week 12.​
The Cardinals officially designated Benson to return from injured reserve on November 19. He got in four limited practices between Weeks 12 and Week 13, his first since sustaining the injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Benson looked good during those practice sessions.​
Benson appeared to suffer a setback during Week 13 preparations. According to reporting by Theo Mackie, Benson was present at Wednesday’s practice but did not look super comfortable going through individual running back drills during the open portion. Mackie noted that Benson went through all drills while we were out there but just looked a bit uncomfortable, kept shaking his leg, reaching toward his knee, hunching over after drills.​
Since that report, Benson has missed five straight practices. He did not practice on Thursday or Friday of Week 13, and the Cardinals ruled him out for the team’s contest against Tampa Bay. Ahead of Week 14, Benson did not practice at all.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon has refused to acknowledge a setback despite the obvious signs. When asked about the possibility of Benson experiencing a setback, Gannon refrained from confirming that notion. He continues to state that Benson is assessed on a day-to-day basis.​
It’s abundantly clear Benson suffered a setback based on his practice participation. Gannon has not described Benson’s return as a foregone conclusion, instead using the term hopeful.​
The Cardinals must activate Benson to the 53-man roster by December 10 or he reverts to season-ending injured reserve. This deadline represents the end of his 21-day practice window that opened on November 19.​
With four games left in a lost season, there doesn’t seem to be much sense in bringing Benson back. Arizona sits at 3-10 and has been eliminated from playoff contention. Kyler Murray was shut down for the season on Friday after his mid-foot sprain failed to heal properly.
The Cardinals also ruled out Marvin Harrison Jr. for Week 14 with a heel injury. Harrison suffered the injury in the second half of the team’s Week 13 loss to Tampa Bay, his first game back after missing two weeks with an appendectomy. It’s been that kind of year for the Cardinals.​​
Benson’s Fantasy Outlook
Benson’s return cannot come soon enough for a Cardinals offense that has struggled to find consistency in the running game since his injury. During his absence, Arizona has cycled through multiple running backs, creating an unreliable committee with limited fantasy value.
Bam Knight has served as the primary ball carrier in recent weeks with Emari Demercado dealing with his own injury issues. Michael Carter operates as the change-of-pace option, though neither back has provided the explosiveness Arizona’s offense desperately needs.
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Before getting hurt, Benson had been trending upward in his second season. He accumulated 29 carries for 160 yards and 13 receptions for 64 yards through four games, delivering efficient production on a per-touch basis and providing dual-threat capability that none of the current backs have fully replicated.
If Benson is ever able to return, he 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. The third-round pick out of Florida State ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, showcasing the elite speed that makes him a big-play threat.
However, fantasy managers should temper expectations for his first game back. Even in the extremely unlikely event Benson is activated and plays in Week 15, the Cardinals will ease him into action after such an extended absence. He could operate in a timeshare with Knight initially as the coaching staff manages his workload and ensures the knee can handle game action.
The bigger concern for fantasy managers is whether Benson plays at all this season. If Wednesday’s practice brings another DNP, fantasy managers should consider moving on from Benson entirely. In fact, you already can.
