Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson remains on injured reserve, leaving fans anxious to see if he’ll reclaim his spot as RB1 after James Conner’s season-ending injury. Entering 2025, Benson had the chance to emerge as Arizona’s future lead back, but a meniscus setback limited him to just one start before joining Conner on the sidelines.
When Will Trey Benson Return from Injury?
Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters last week that Benson was making progress in his rehab and the team is just taking it day-by-day with him.
“He’s doing well. Take it day-by-day there,” Gannon said of Benson. “He’s not gonna be out there today, but he is doing better. What does close mean? I don’t know what close means. Take it day-by-day, but he’s doing well. He’s progressing.”
“Taking it day by day” lacks specifics, but the process to activate Benson’s 21-day practice window is still pending, meaning a return in the next few weeks remains hopeful but uncertain.
In Benson’s absence, Arizona’s running game has struggled to find momentum. Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado have yet to deliver consistent results, and the offensive metrics reflect those issues: the Cardinals rank near the bottom of the league in PFSN’s OFFi metric, averaging under 5.0 yards per play and converting fewer than 38% of their third and fourth downs.
Arizona’s best flashes have come with Jacoby Brissett under center following Kyler Murray’s injury. Brissett’s steady play and experience have brought a sense of stability to an offense searching for a spark. Brissett currently ranks 15th in the NFL in Quarterback Impact metric, three spots ahead of Kyler Murray.
The Cardinals season is on life support right now, with PFSN’s Playoff Predictor giving them only a 2.9% chance of making the playoffs.
When Benson returns, he’s lined up for starting duties, offering versatility that could upgrade Arizona’s ground attack. The team’s chances at moving the ball and controlling games hinge on Benson’s recovery, making his progress one of the top storylines for Arizona.