Entering their bye week on a five-game losing streak and already missing their top two running backs, the Arizona Cardinals are in crisis mode. After James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury on Sept. 21, the spotlight turned to Trey Benson, the former third-round pick finally poised for an expanded role in Arizona’s backfield.
But just as things seemed to stabilize, Benson went down with a meniscus injury, forcing him onto injured reserve and leaving the Cardinals scrambling again. With fans anxious about his return, the question on everyone’s mind is clear: when will Benson be back?
When Will Trey Benson Return?
Benson suffered knee injuries during Arizona’s Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Initially thought to be minor, the issue worsened in the days following the contest. Head coach Jonathan Gannon explained that the team didn’t fully grasp the severity of Benson’s knee problem until he reported soreness at the facility after the game.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Benson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear, with a projected recovery window of 4-6 weeks. The former Florida State standout was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 1, beginning a mandatory absence that has now spanned three full games.
The Cardinals are on their Week 8 bye, allowing Benson to recover without missing additional in-game action. Under NFL IR rules, he must also sit out Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys before being eligible to return.
Benson could potentially make his comeback in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks, exactly five weeks after the injury, and within the initial recovery timeline. However, given the team’s historically cautious approach to rehab, Arizona may take a more conservative route.
In Benson’s absence, the Cardinals have relied on a three-man committee in the backfield with Emari Demercado, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight. Still, the group has struggled to generate significant production. Only Demercado has topped 60 rushing yards in a game, thanks mainly to a 71-yard run against the Tennessee Titans.
Carter has just 97 yards on the ground on 35 carries, Knight has 102 yards on 29 carries, and Demercado has 90 yards on only eight carries. Even after playing in just five games, quarterback Kyler Murray is still the team’s leading rusher with 173 yards on 29 attempts.
With Conner and Benson sidelined, the Cardinals’ backfield remains in flux, leaving Arizona to rely on a committee that has yet to find consistency. His potential return in Week 10 could provide a much-needed spark for the rushing attack and the team’s struggling offense, which ranks 20th in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric.
