The Arizona Cardinals continue into Week 13 with uncertainty surrounding a key piece of their backfield. Trey Benson has been missing since Week 4, and while early signs of progress appeared last week, the most recent updates have complicated expectations.
With an important matchup approaching, his status remains one of the most closely followed questions of the week.
Trey Benson Injury Update
Benson injured his knee in Week 4, required arthroscopic surgery, and was placed on injured reserve, according to team updates. After the Cardinals designated him to return last week, he logged three limited practices, which initially indicated he might be nearing a comeback.
That positive momentum, however, shifted when the team released its latest participation reports. On Wednesday, Benson returned to the practice field, though the team had not yet specified whether he was working in a limited or full capacity. Even without that detail, his presence was viewed as an improvement over the previous week and offered some encouragement about his chances for Sunday.
By Thursday, the picture had changed again. Benson was held out of practice entirely after being limited the day before, a development that signaled a setback and reduced the likelihood he would be able to suit up in Week 13.
On Friday, the Cardinals officially ruled out Benson for this week’s game. Still, the running back’s earlier stretch of limited practices suggests the organization believes he is nearing a return, even if the timing remains fluid.
Before the injury, Benson contributed effectively in the first month of the season, recording 160 rushing yards on 29 attempts and adding 64 receiving yards on 13 catches. His most recent outing in Week 4 included 35 rushing yards on eight carries, a performance that offered a glimpse of what the Cardinals hoped to build around after James Conner’s season-ending setback.
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Once he is healthy, the expectation remains that Benson will reclaim the lead role from Bam Knight as the Cardinals evaluate their third-round pick over the rest of the season. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Cardinals currently have the 22nd-ranked offense in the league, and without Benson, things are unlikely to get better.
Knight and Emari Demercado also appear on the report because of knee and ankle issues, giving the Cardinals multiple backfield decisions to monitor as they prepare for Sunday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As of now, Benson could potentially play next week. However, for the upcoming game against the Buccaneers, they’ll have to be without the 23-year-old running back.
Arizona Cardinals’ Insights for Week 13
Team:Â Arizona is one loss from its fourth straight losing season.
QB: Jacoby Brissett has passed for 769 yards in the last two games. It’s the most yards in a two-game span in his ten-year career.
Offense:Â Arizona is one of three teams not to score at least 28 points in one game this season.
Defense:Â The Cardinals have allowed 112 points during their current three-game losing streak
Fantasy: Trey Benson sounds close to returning, and after non-QB Cardinals ran 17 times for 35 yards against the Jags, this is a team that could use it. Benson should be viewed as the clear-cut workhorse in Arizona when the team deems him healthy enough to be active.
