The Arizona Cardinals have struggled to find consistency this season, and a string of injuries has forced the team to rethink its offensive game plan. The running game, in particular, has taken a major hit, with team captain James Conner sidelined for Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans.
What exactly happened to Conner, and when can fans expect him back on the field? Let’s take a closer look at the injury and the timeline for his return.
What’s James Conner’s Injury?
Conner’s 2025 season came to a crushing end when the veteran running back went down with a foot injury in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
After a low hit caused his leg to bend awkwardly, Conner stayed on the turf before being carted off the field. Tests confirmed the worst: he required a season-ending surgery and won’t play again until 2026.
For Cardinals fans, the news was a gut punch. Conner isn’t just a stat line; he has been Arizona’s workhorse and emotional leader since joining the team in 2021. With back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, clutch third-down conversions, and a knack for keeping the offense moving, he has been the heartbeat of the Cardinals, both on and off the field.
His absence removed the physical, reliable element around which Arizona built its ground game. Stepping into the starting role, second-year running back Trey Benson seemed ready to fill the void. However, the Cardinals’ backfield took another hit when head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Benson is being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered late last week.
With both Conner and Benson sidelined, the Cardinals are now leaning heavily on depth pieces. Gannon announced the team will rotate between Emari Demercado, Bam Knight, and Michael Carter in Sunday’s home matchup against the Titans. While each brings unique skills, none match Conner’s consistency or Benson’s big-play ability, forcing Arizona to rework its offensive approach heading into the game.
Conner had established himself as the Cardinals’ lead back after arriving from the Steelers in 2021. Over 2023 and 2024, he racked up 444 carries for 2,134 yards with 15 touchdowns and 4.8 YPC. He was productive, solid, dependable, and locked in.
However, 2025 got off to a rocky start for Conner. By Week 3 against the 49ers, he had accumulated just 23 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown heading into the game. Facing a tough San Francisco defense, Conner finished the contest with 32 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, adding 38 receiving yards and another score through the air.
Despite these contributions, he is ranked 34th in PFSN’s RB Impact metric going into Week 5, reflecting the challenging start to his season before the injury ended it.
