Trey Benson stepped up for the Arizona Cardinals, filling the void left by James Conner’s season-ending injury. The second-year running back from Florida State took on the bulk of Conner’s workload, posting 160 yards on 29 carries over four games before his own progress was halted by injury.
Trey Benson Injury Update for Week 12
Benson has been out since Week 4, missing five straight games. He suffered a knee injury against the Seahawks, leading to his placement on injured reserve. Under IR rules, he was required to miss at least four games, making Week 10 the first contest he was eligible to return.
Moreover, the latest update from head coach Jonathan Gannon on his status was not overly optimistic.
“He’s doing well,” Gannon said about Benson last week. “Take it day by day there. 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.”
This indicates Benson is trending in the right direction and is expected to return at some point this season. Still, Gannon seems committed to a cautious approach, avoiding any rush to get the young back on the field.
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Ultimately, there’s no firm timeline. Benson remains in recovery, and Arizona appears willing to give him more time if needed. Knee injuries can be particularly tricky for young running backs, and the Cardinals are likely to prioritize his long-term health.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Cardinals have the 20th-ranked offense in the league after their 41-22 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.
In Benson’s absence, Bam Knight was the Cardinals’ leading back last week. He rushed for 24 yards on five carries, while Emari Demercado rushed for eight yards on five carries.
Jacoby Brissett threw the ball 57 times against the 49ers and set an NFL record of most completions in an NFL game by completing 47 of his throws for 452 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Cardinals are 3-7 heading into Week 12. Demercado currently leads the team in rushing as he has rushed for 241 yards on 31 carries. Knight leads the team with three rushing touchdowns on the season, and it shows how poor Arizona’s run game has been this year.
Arizona is still without quarterback Kyler Murray, who was placed on the injured reserve last week. Injuries to key players have ruined what could have been a great season for the Cardinals, as they started the campaign with two straight wins before Conner’s injury in Week 3.