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James Conner’s Season-Ending Injury Leaves Arizona Cardinals Scrambling for Answers

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 9:36 AM ET

The Arizona Cardinals just got hit with the kind of news that makes even the most optimistic fans reach for another beer. James Conner, the team’s reliable workhorse running back, is done for the season after suffering what can only be described as a brutal ankle injury during Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers. And honestly, watching it happen was about as fun as a root canal.

The Moment That Changed Everything for Conner

It happened in the third quarter, because of course it did. Conner was doing what he does best—grinding out tough yards—when he got caught in the worst possible position. His ankle got trapped under him during a tackle, bending in a way that ankles definitely aren’t supposed to bend. The immediate reaction from everyone on the field told you everything you needed to know: this wasn’t your typical “walk it off” situation.

The sight of teammates rushing onto the field to support their fallen comrade was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. You could practically feel the collective “oh no” from the Cardinals sideline as they watched their offensive anchor get carted off the field.

What Conner’s Absence Means for Arizona’s Ground Game

Let’s be brutally honest here—losing Conner is like losing your favorite pair of jeans. Sure, you’ve got other pants, but nothing quite fits the same way. Through three games this season, the Cardinals’ running attack was already struggling to find its identity, averaging 114 yards per game. Now they’re asking a collection of backups to somehow fill the void left by a guy who’s been their most consistent offensive weapon.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed what everyone feared: the ankle injury is severe enough to require surgery and will sideline Conner for the remainder of the season. It’s the kind of news that makes you wonder if the football gods have a personal vendetta against Arizona.

Trey Benson Steps Into the Spotlight

Enter Trey Benson, the second-year back out of Florida who’s about to get thrown into the deep end of the NFL pool. Benson, who’s been quietly accumulating 125 yards on 21 carries this season, suddenly finds himself as the Cardinals’ primary ball carrier. No pressure, right?

“I don’t have a choice,” Benson said with the kind of determined resignation that would make any coach proud. “I’m going to do it for [Conner]. He’s going to be my motivation for the rest of the year and I can’t wait.”

The emotional weight of the situation isn’t lost on Benson, who called Conner both a mentor and “like a big brother to me.” It’s touching, sure, but sentiment doesn’t block linebackers or break tackles.

The Supporting Cast Needs to Step Up

Behind Benson sits Emari Demercado, who spent most of last season as the Cardinals’ third-down specialist. Demercado seems refreshingly realistic about the situation, suggesting that the biggest change for him will simply be the number of snaps he sees. Revolutionary thinking there.

“I think we’re good at what we do,” Demercado said. “So, we just got to stick with that no matter who’s on the ball.” It’s the kind of confidence you love to hear, even if it feels a bit like whistling past the graveyard.

Bam Knight rounds out the current depth chart, while Michael Carter lurks on the practice squad as a potential emergency option. Carter actually had a decent showing with the Cardinals last season, racking up 131 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries. Not exactly earth-shattering numbers, but at least he knows the playbook.

Coach Gannon’s Reality Check

Head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t exactly sugarcoat the situation when discussing the team’s running game performance. “The runs that are going for nothing, we have to be more efficient with those,” he said, pointing out the painfully obvious fact that too many rushing attempts were leaving the Cardinals in second-and-long situations.

It’s the kind of brutally honest assessment that makes you appreciate a coach who doesn’t blow sunshine up everyone’s backside. The Cardinals’ ground game has been inconsistent at best, and now they’re asking a bunch of question marks to somehow provide stability.

The Numbers Tell a Sobering Story

Here’s where things get really fun for Cardinals fans. Through three games, Arizona’s rushing attack has managed 334 yards on 77 carries—respectable but not spectacular. Compare that to last season’s first three games, when they posted 432 yards on 83 attempts, and you can see the regression happening in real time.

The 4.65 yards per carry average ranks them 12th in the league, which sounds decent until you realize they’re about to hand the keys to a collection of players who’ve combined for fewer career touches than Conner probably had in his last five games.

What This Means for Kyler Murray

Poor Kyler Murray. The quarterback was already dealing with questions about the offense’s consistency, and now he’s lost his most reliable safety valve. Murray’s post-game comments were telling in their simplicity: “We got to continue to go. We got to continue to get better, and we got to be able to run the ball.”

Translation: “We’re in trouble, but I can’t say that out loud.”

The Cardinals’ passing game will likely need to carry even more weight now, which is both a blessing and a curse for a team still trying to find its offensive identity.

The Road Ahead for Arizona

Let’s not kid ourselves—this is a massive blow to a Cardinals team that was already facing questions about their competitiveness in a tough NFC West. Losing Conner doesn’t just hurt their running game; it affects their entire offensive ecosystem.

The veteran running back wasn’t just a player; he was a leader in the locker room and a security blanket for the coaching staff. Now they’re asking a group of relatively unproven backs to somehow maintain the same level of production and leadership.

Will Benson rise to the occasion? Can Demercado handle a larger workload? These are the questions that will define the Cardinals’ season, and unfortunately, we’re about to find out the answers the hard way.

For now, all Cardinals fans can do is hope that their team’s “next man up” mentality actually translates to production on the field. Because if it doesn’t, this season could get ugly in a hurry.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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