The Arizona Cardinals may have suffered a devastating blow to their offense in Week 3. Veteran running back James Conner was carted off the field during Sunday’s matchup with the San Francisco 49ers after going down with a right leg injury early in the third quarter.
What Happened to James Conner?
Support Our Fight To End Fall Weddings
The injury occurred on a 1-yard run up the middle when Conner’s right ankle was caught awkwardly underneath a 49ers defender. As he was twisted to the ground, Conner immediately grabbed his lower right leg and was unable to put any weight on it. Medical staff quickly rushed to his side before he was carted off.
It was a brutal scene on a Sunday already filled with significant injuries around the NFL. As one league insider described it, Conner’s injury looked “almost certainly season-ending.”
Conner’s 2025 Season So Far
Before exiting, Conner had nine carries for 22 yards and three receptions for 15 yards. Through the first two weeks of the season, he had rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown while adding five catches for 23 yards and another score.
Though his efficiency has dipped early in 2025 — his 73.2 RB Impact grade ranked 24th entering Week 2 — Conner was coming off a resurgent 2024 campaign where he posted an 86.1 grade, the second-highest of his career and sixth overall among running backs.
The 29-year-old has long been a reliable starter and entered this year as one of just four RBs, alongside Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, and Kyren Williams, to log back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
What’s Next for the Cardinals’ Backfield
With Conner sidelined, rookie Trey Benson is expected to take over as Arizona’s lead back, with Emari Demercado backing him up. Both players are relatively unproven, combining for just five games with 10-plus carries entering Sunday.
Benson, however, showed flashes last year, particularly in Week 10 against the Jets when he totaled 87 scrimmage yards on 7.3 yards per touch and earned a 90.4 (A-) RB Impact grade. Already seeing an uptick in usage this season, Benson could now step into a larger role and projects as an RB2 in fantasy football.
While Demercado may handle some passing-down responsibilities, Benson could see three-down work simply because of the Cardinals’ limited depth at the position.
A Major Setback
For Arizona, losing Conner is a major setback both on the field and in the locker room. He has been a steady presence in the backfield for years and remained an effective red-zone option. Now, the Cardinals’ young running backs will be thrust into the spotlight far earlier than expected as the team tries to keep its season afloat.