Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the team’s most reliable offensive players, suffered a season-ending injury in September. Conner was carted off the field during the third quarter of Arizona’s 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. His right leg was bent awkwardly underneath him as he was tackled near the line of scrimmage.
What Did Jonathan Gannon Say About James Conner’s Injury?
Coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed that James Conner suffered a severe right foot injury, initially thought to be an ankle issue. Further tests revealed that surgery would be required, ending the running back’s 2025 season.
“One of our leaders, a captain, you hate that it happens,” Gannon said, via ESPN. “I feel terrible, but I know he’ll take the right attitude and bounce back. Picking up that slack, both the player and the person, we’re all going to have to collectively do it, truthfully. But that’s a bummer just like all our guys that have gotten hurt, but I just know what type of person and player he is. It’s tough to replace, but we have to. So, that’s what we’ll do.”
Before getting injured, Conner had logged nine carries for 22 yards and added three receptions for 15 yards in the game. Through three contests, he recorded 32 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown, adding eight receptions for 38 yards and another score. He was ranked 34th in PFSN’s RB Impact metric before going into Week 5.
The injury came at a difficult time for the Arizona Cardinals, which had been leaning heavily on his production since he joined the franchise in 2021. Over the past two seasons, Conner delivered back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. Between 2023 and 2024, he totaled 2,134 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
The loss of Conner leaves a big gap in the Cardinals’ offense. With him out, Arizona will rely on its younger running backs to carry the load. Trey Benson, a 2024 third-round pick, might be the next man up to take on a larger role. However, he also landed on injured reserve with a knee issue, leaving the team to rotate between Emari Demercado, Bam Knight, and Michael Carter in the backfield.
Conner signed a two-year, $19 million extension with the Cardinals in November 2024, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season. While his base salary is guaranteed due to injury, he is expected to make a full recovery and return to the field in 2026.
Arizona Cardinals’ Insights for Week 10
Team: In Week 4 against Seattle, Arizona scored 14 points in less than six minutes to tie the game with 28 seconds left. Jason Myers won the game for the Seahawks with a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
QB: Jacoby Brissett’s 82.8 QBi score is tenth in the league. All three of his starts had a weekly rank of 13th or higher.
Offense: The Cardinals have one turnover in their three wins and seven turnovers in the five losses.
Defense: Arizona’s 81.3 DEFi against Dallas was the 6th best in Week 9. The Cowboys have the fourth-best offense according to OFFi.
Fantasy: Since taking over for an injured Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett has posted at least 19.7 fantasy points in each of his three starts. The last time Murray accomplished this feat was in Weeks 8, 9, and 12 of the 2022 season. Murray failed to reach 19 fantasy points in any of his starts this season.