The Arizona Cardinals are dealing with another significant blow to their backfield after losing James Conner. Trey Benson also sustained an injury that will keep him sidelined for an extended period. For fantasy football managers who were counting on the second-year back, what is his timeline for returning to action?
Trey Benson Injury Update
Benson took over as the Cardinals’ RB1 in Week 4 following Conner’s season-ending ankle injury. He handled the increased workload admirably in his first start, carrying eight times for 35 yards and catching five passes for 19 yards against Seattle.
However, Benson sustained a knee injury late in the Seahawks game. The injury wasn’t immediately apparent. Head coach Jonathan Gannon noted that the team didn’t realize the seriousness of the issue until later.
The situation escalated quickly over the weekend. Benson came to the team facility on Friday reporting soreness in his knee. Further evaluation revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals officially placed Benson on injured reserve. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Benson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus. The procedure is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.
Given the IR designation, Benson must miss a minimum of four games. Based on the surgical timeline, his return date falls somewhere in the Week 9-11 range at the earliest. The Cardinals’ bye week in Week 14 could provide additional recovery time if needed, but it would be a surprise if Benson needed that much time to get back on the field.
Gannon confirmed that Benson is expected to return at some point this season, distinguishing this injury from Conner’s season-ending situation. The team remains optimistic about his recovery prospects, though they won’t rush him back prematurely.
The injury represents another devastating blow to Arizona’s rushing attack. The Cardinals have now lost both of their top running backs within a three-week span, forcing them to rely entirely on their depth pieces.
Benson had been averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 29 attempts this season while adding 13 receptions for 64 yards. His emergence as a reliable option made this injury particularly unfortunate for both the team and fantasy managers.
Benson Fantasy Outlook
While Benson recovers from his meniscus surgery, Michael Carter will serve as the Cardinals’ lead back. Carter handled the bulk of the workload in Week 5 against Tennessee, carrying the ball 18 times and earning five targets in his first opportunity as the primary option.
Carter posted RB1 numbers in his debut, accumulating 18.3 fantasy points through a combination of rushing and receiving production. His performance demonstrated that he can handle the increased workload effectively when given the opportunity.
Bam Knight will receive a couple of series each week to provide Carter with occasional breathers. Emari Demercado will primarily handle passing-down duties and third-down situations. However, Carter is clearly the most fantasy-relevant option among the trio.
Carter will function as a volume-based RB2/Flex play until Benson returns to full health. The Cardinals have committed to running the ball consistently, which should provide Carter with sufficient opportunities to produce fantasy-relevant numbers.
The team’s offensive struggles do limit the upside potential for all Cardinals skill position players. Arizona ranks among the lower tier of rushing offenses, which caps the ceiling for their running backs regardless of volume.
When Benson eventually returns from IR, he should reclaim his role as the primary back. However, Carter’s performance during this stretch could earn him a larger role moving forward, potentially creating a committee situation rather than Benson returning to a workhorse role.
Fantasy managers should view Carter as a strong short-term option while monitoring Benson’s recovery progress for potential late-season production. The timeline suggests Benson could return for fantasy playoff weeks if his rehabilitation goes smoothly.
