The Arizona Cardinals have found themselves in quite a pickle. Less than a month into the 2025 NFL season, they have already lost starting running back James Conner for the season to an ankle injury. That means, in a make-or-break year for the Jonathan Gannon regime (and maybe Marvin Harrison Jr.), Arizona will be forced to swim and stay afloat without one of its best offensive players. Those desert-themed uniforms can only go so far!
But not all is lost, depending on how you look at the situation.
The Cardinals do seemingly have a dependable backup for Conner in Trey Benson. The former third-round draft pick is at the start of his second season in Arizona and has fared well when given opportunities, with a career average of five yards per carry on 84 attempts. That has mostly been in spot duty, rather than in the full-time starting role. It seems like Benson can handle a greater responsibility, but we’ll have to see that come to fruition first.
Benson already appears to have the right mentality, given how he responded to Conner’s injury in public:
Call it a hunch, but the Cardinals might be just fine without Conner after seeing how well Benson has already played and the approach he’s taking to stepping up.
Who is Trey Benson’s backup?
Benson’s backup will be former fantasy football darling Emari Demercado, who is in his third season in Arizona. Expect Demercado to get some churn now and then in an effort to have a healthy and productive Cardinals backfield rotation.
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