For running back Trey Benson, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind, a mix of opportunity, determination, and now, frustration.
After stepping up in a big way following James Conner’s season-ending injury, Benson looked ready to make his mark on the Arizona Cardinals’ offense. But just as things started to click, another setback hit.
Trey Benson Injury, Placed in IR for Next Four Weeks
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Benson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus and is expected to miss four to six weeks. The Cardinals placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday, sidelining him for at least four games.
The good news, though, is that Benson’s injury isn’t season-ending, and both the team and Benson remain optimistic he’ll be back this year.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon explained that the team initially didn’t realize the seriousness of the injury. Benson apparently played through it during Thursday night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks before the pain worsened.
“We’ll see how kind of the week goes,” Gannon said. “We obviously know we got to pick up that role but feel good about Bam and Emari and Mike Carter.”
Before the injury, Benson had been making the most of his chance. In his first start, he carried the ball eight times for 35 yards and caught five passes for 19 yards, not jaw-dropping numbers, but enough to show flashes of his power and promise. For fans and teammates, it was easy to see why the Cardinals believed in him.
Cardinals Without Conner and Benson, Who Will Step Up Next for Arizona?
Benson is currently facing a new kind of challenge: recuperation. After the bye week in Arizona, he might be able to return as early as Week 10. Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, and Zonovan “Bam” Knight will be the Cardinals’ go-to backfield options until then.
It’s a devastating blow for a squad that has already been severely impacted by poor luck to lose Benson so soon after Conner’s injury. However, it’s easy to say that his journey is far from over. Benson’s work ethic and grit have been evident since training camp, and they will be crucial as he battles his way back.
It’ll be up to the Cardinals to remain competitive in the interim. If they can do that, Benson will only add to the reinforcements once he’s clear, but that’s at least four weeks from now. The questions all reside within the clubhouse and how they can put together wins.
