The Arizona Cardinals continue to wait for reinforcements in their backfield as they approach Week 14. Trey Benson has now missed eight games and nine 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 nine 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.
Benson has now spent two weeks within his window of activation. The Cardinals officially designated him to return from injured reserve on Wednesday of Week 12. He got in three limited practices that week, his first since sustaining the injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Benson “looked good” during those practice sessions.
It’s rare 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 Week 12’s game against Jacksonville despite his encouraging practice participation. The team wanted to give him additional time before activating him to the 53-man roster.
The hope was that Benson could ramp things up ahead of Week 13 and potentially make his return against Tampa Bay. Instead, he appeared to suffer a setback on Wednesday of last week.
According to excellent reporting by Theo Mackie, Benson was present at 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, etc. after drills.”
Benson was limited to start the week on Wednesday, but did not practice on Thursday or Friday. The Cardinals ruled him out for the team’s Week 13 contest against the Bucs, extending his absence to eight consecutive games.
With just five weeks left in a lost season for the Cardinals, there is no sense in pushing Benson to play if he is not healthy. The organization has no playoff aspirations and would gain nothing by forcing their young running back onto the field before he is fully recovered.
Last week, Mackie also provided this: “Trey Benson will be out this week but Gannon said he doesn’t see it as a long-term shutdown.” This comment suggests the coaching staff does not believe Benson has suffered a significant setback that would end his season.
Unfortunately, the team’s actions belie Gannon’s words. Benson did not practice on Wednesday. This is very uncommon for a player returning from IR. Whether the team wants to admit it or not, Benson very clearly suffered a setback.
It sounds as if the expectation is still that Benson will return one of the next two weeks. However, the lack of practice heavily points to the Cardinals shutting Benson down for the season.
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 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 15, 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 and ensures the knee can handle game action.
The bigger concern for fantasy managers is whether Benson plays at all this season. His failure to practice on Wednesday creates legitimate doubt about his availability for the final stretch. At this point, it is safe to operate as if he won’t play again this year.