The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2025 season with veteran James Conner entrenched as the starting running back. However, Conner played in just three games before suffering a season-ending injury, and the team has struggled to get consistency from the ground game in Conner’s absence. Now, fans are wondering when his backup, Trey Benson, who was also injured, will return.
Will Trey Benson play in Week 11?
Benson was the running back who figured to take over for Conner. Unfortunately, though, Benson suffered a serious injury himself in his first start and hasn’t played since Week 4. Several running backs have rotated in since then, but none have impressed all that much. Benson isn’t expected to be out for the season, so when can we expect him to return?
Head coach Jonathan Gannon recently said in an interview that Benson is “taking it day by day” in his recovery. However, the team has yet to activate Benson’s 21-day practice window, so he will not play in Week 11.
Considering the team hasn’t activated Benson’s practice window, it can be assumed the running back needs more time to build up strength and recover. Gannon, describing Benson’s recovery as “day by day,” though, implies that the running back will be healthy soon.
Benson, meanwhile, rushed 29 times for 160 yards before the injury. As Conner’s backup in 2024, Benson rushed for 291 yards and one touchdown.
The Cardinals clearly miss Conner and Benson. PFSN’s RB Impact ranking gave Conner an 85.7 grade for his 2024 performance, and Benson was a third-round pick out of Florida State last season.
Who will get the snaps while Benson is out?
Without Benson, the Cardinals have been relying on Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. Demercado leads the team with 233 yards, while Knight leads the team in carries with 48. Knight hasn’t been efficient, though, as the running back has turned those carries into just 157 yards.
Quarterback Kyler Murray is second on the team in rushing yards this season with 173. However, Murray was recently added to the injured reserve list as well, putting a bigger dent in the team’s ground game.
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In Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers, Knight is expected to play after being listed as questionable. The team will likely rely on Knight and Demercado once again while they await Benson’s return. The 49ers have been mediocre against the run this offseason, so it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals can get the ground game going.
The Cardinals enter this Week 11 matchup with a 3-6 record. After Week 11, the team has games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.