Off to a 2-1 start, the Arizona Cardinals looked like things were trending upward. During a close game against the San Francisco 49ers, they ultimately lost 16-15. After going 12-22 over the previous two years, winning two of their first three looked like a step up. Teams that struggle often look for the small bright light to build upon. What happens when bad luck strikes, especially to a key offensive piece? How do they keep moving forward?
Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner to Miss Remainder of Season After Foot Surgery
Since he joined the Cardinals, Conner has accumulated 3,763 yards from scrimmage with 46 total touchdowns. On a one-yard run after halftime, Conner absorbed two hits by San Francisco defenders. He lay on the ground, and you could sense the gravity of the matter. Head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke on Monday.
“You hate that it happens,” Gannon said. “I know he’ll take the right attitude and bounce back.
“Taking up that slack, both the player and the person, we’ll all have to collectively do it.”
Conner spent his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, scoring 26 combined touchdowns and 2,299 yards from the line of scrimmage. Before that, he starred at the University of Pittsburgh, where he won the 2014 ACC Player of the Year award. Conner is no stranger to overcoming adversity. Back in 2015, he tore an ACL.
The same year, doctors diagnosed him with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which he defeated and has remained cancer-free since.
Behind Conner on the depth chart, the Cardinals possess options. Whether any of them can fill the role remains to be seen. First, Trey Benson is a bigger back at 6-feet-tall and 220 pounds, with game-breaking speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash).
As of yet, with just one touchdown in 98 touches, Benson needs to show that he cannot only step in for Conner but also provide a burst, an element of dynamic play that presents a balance to quarterback Kyler Murray, who expressed confidence in Benson.
“Ultimate confidence in Trey (Benson).”
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray believes Trey Benson and the other running backs can get the job done in the absence of James Conner @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/0I809JBFmM
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) September 23, 2025
Meanwhile, Benson’s backup, Emari Demercado, has more experience. He’s not as big as Benson (5’9″, 215 pounds), but he runs with more power and contact balance, considering his lower center of gravity.
The Cardinals welcome the Seahawks on Thursday night. Seattle’s run defense presents an instant problem for Arizona, ranking in the top ten in fewest yards, fewest rushing touchdowns, and fewest yards per attempt.
Conner will look to return next season. However, what will his role look like if his backups perform well enough?
