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Since joining the team in the 2021 NFL season, James Conner's been the Arizona Cardinals' top running back. The former Pittsburgh Steeler took over a starting role full-time in 2022 and hasn't looked back.
In 2024, he started 16 of the Cardinals' 17 games and set a career-high in rushing and scrimmage yards with 1,094 and 1,508, respectively.
But Arizona will have to do without its top running back for the rest of 2025 due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
It's been nearly half a decade since the Cardinals relied on someone other than Conner to lead the way out of the backfield. In just over two games of action, he'd racked up 133 total yards and two touchdowns.
Arizona is going to backup Trey Benson this week in primetime on "Thursday Night Football" against the Seattle Seahawks. Here's what you need to know about him and the rest of the Cardinals' depth chart.
The Cardinals' new top running back is in his second season with the team. Arizona drafted Benson in the third round, No. 66 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Benson was the second running back selected in that draft after Jonathon Brooks went at No. 46 overall to Carolina.
Benson was a two-year starter at Florida State prior to the draft. He produced more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023 for the Seminoles and had 24 total touchdowns in his two seasons in Tallahassee.
In the draft, Benson was considered one of the top prospects at the position. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, he packs lots of explosion and long speed into a sturdy frame.
As a rookie in 2024, Benson had just one start: Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. He managed just 17 total yards on 12 touches in that game.
Things improved over the course of the season, and he finished the year with 63 carries for 291 yards and one rushing touchdown, along with six catches for 59 yards.
Benson now leads the way in the backfield with the veteran Demercado behind him. Arizona signed Demercado as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he started two games as a rookie in Conner's place.
Knight was an undrafted free agent in the 2022 NFL Draft and has played for the New York Jets and Detroit Lions.
Carter also played for the Jets after the team took him No. 107 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent just over two years with the team and was waived in November 2023. Arizona claimed him and has kept him on the practice squad ever since.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Trey Benson? Impacts of James Conner injury to RB depth chart
Continue reading...
In 2024, he started 16 of the Cardinals' 17 games and set a career-high in rushing and scrimmage yards with 1,094 and 1,508, respectively.
But Arizona will have to do without its top running back for the rest of 2025 due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
It's been nearly half a decade since the Cardinals relied on someone other than Conner to lead the way out of the backfield. In just over two games of action, he'd racked up 133 total yards and two touchdowns.
Arizona is going to backup Trey Benson this week in primetime on "Thursday Night Football" against the Seattle Seahawks. Here's what you need to know about him and the rest of the Cardinals' depth chart.
Who is Trey Benson?
The Cardinals' new top running back is in his second season with the team. Arizona drafted Benson in the third round, No. 66 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Benson was the second running back selected in that draft after Jonathon Brooks went at No. 46 overall to Carolina.
Benson was a two-year starter at Florida State prior to the draft. He produced more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023 for the Seminoles and had 24 total touchdowns in his two seasons in Tallahassee.
In the draft, Benson was considered one of the top prospects at the position. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, he packs lots of explosion and long speed into a sturdy frame.
As a rookie in 2024, Benson had just one start: Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. He managed just 17 total yards on 12 touches in that game.
Things improved over the course of the season, and he finished the year with 63 carries for 291 yards and one rushing touchdown, along with six catches for 59 yards.
Cardinals RB depth chart
- Trey Benson
- Emari Demercado
- Bam Knight
- Michael Carter (practice squad)
Benson now leads the way in the backfield with the veteran Demercado behind him. Arizona signed Demercado as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he started two games as a rookie in Conner's place.
Knight was an undrafted free agent in the 2022 NFL Draft and has played for the New York Jets and Detroit Lions.
Carter also played for the Jets after the team took him No. 107 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent just over two years with the team and was waived in November 2023. Arizona claimed him and has kept him on the practice squad ever since.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Trey Benson? Impacts of James Conner injury to RB depth chart
Continue reading...
