The Arizona Cardinals continue to wait for reinforcements in their backfield as they approach Week 13. Trey Benson has now missed seven games and eight weeks due to his knee injury. Is this the week fantasy football managers finally see Benson return to action?
Trey Benson Injury Update
Benson has been sidelined for over eight weeks since sustaining his knee injury during the Cardinals’ Week 4 matchup against Seattle. The issue was originally thought to be minor, but further testing uncovered a meniscus tear that necessitated surgery. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Benson underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair the tear, with a projected recovery timeline 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 last week.
Arizona officially designated Benson to return from injured reserve on Wednesday of Week 12. He participated in three limited practices last week, his first since suffering the injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Benson “looked good” during those practice sessions.
It’s uncommon for players coming off extended IR stints to play the first week after designation for return. True to form, the Cardinals ruled Benson out for Sunday’s matchup against Jacksonville despite his encouraging practice participation. The team opted to give him additional time before activating him to the 53-man roster.
Benson remained limited at Wednesday’s practice, and the expectation should be that he will be limited all week. We got even more detail thanks to Theo Mackie’s excellent reporting: “Trey Benson present again but did not look super comfortable going through individual RB drills during the open portion. Gannon did not have an update on his status today”.
Mackie added further details that raise concern about Benson’s readiness: “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, etc. after drills”.
These observations suggest Benson is still working through discomfort in his surgically repaired knee. While his ability to practice represents progress, the visible signs of unease during drills indicate he may not be ready for game action just yet.
Bam Knight injured his knee in overtime last week during the Jacksonville game, but appears to be okay. He got in a limited practice on Wednesday, which puts him on track to play against Tampa Bay. Knight would serve as the lead back in a committee with Michael Carter once again if Benson needs another week, which looks like it might be the case.
The Cardinals have until December 4 to activate Benson or he will revert to season-ending injured reserve. Based on Wednesday’s practice observations, Arizona may use most or all of that remaining window before making Benson active. The team has shown they won’t rush him back before he’s truly ready.
Benson’s Fantasy Outlook
Benson’s return can’t 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 served as the lead back in Week 12 with Demercado sidelined, while Michael Carter operated as the change-of-pace option.
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.
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When Benson does 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 if Benson is activated and plays in Week 13, the Cardinals will likely 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.