NFL Week 3 predictions: Why we picked Colts, 49ers, and Falcons
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The injury hits keep coming for the Arizona Cardinals.
Running back James Conner was carted off the field with an ankle injury early in the third quarter of their Week 3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He was quickly ruled out by the team.
The injury occurred on Conner’s second carry of the third quarter, as he was tackled near the line of scrimmage by Jordan Elliott and Marques Sigle. His right leg appeared to bend the wrong way under the weight of the tackle.
After the game, head coach Jonathan Gannon said he did not know the severity of Conner’s injury. Backup running back Trey Benson provided more transparency.
“I’m gonna do it for him,” Benson said. “He’s gonna be my motivation for the rest of the year.”
ESPN later confirmed that Conner’s injury is, in fact, season ending.
Benson will now take over as the Cardinals’ lead back, with Emari Demercado likely seeing an expanded role on pass-catching downs. Zonovan Knight is the third running back on the current roster, though the Cardinals could promote Michael Carter from the practice squad. Carter has excelled in his limited opportunities since joining Arizona in 2023.
Benson, a 2024 third-round pick, had already cut into Conner’s workload this season after playing a minor role as a rookie. He has 21 carries for 125 yards and eight receptions for 45 yards in the Cardinals’ first three games. Based on Next Gen Stats player tracking data, he has rushed for 48 yards over expected.
Still, Conner’s injury is a blow to an offense that often relied on his physical, downhill running style.
As soon as it occurred, Cardinals players immediately waved to the sideline, calling for medical attention. Most of the team quickly surrounded Conner as he was helped onto a cart by trainers and brought to the locker room.
Quarterback Kyler Murray stood 10 yards from the injury, with his head angled toward the turf, briefly unable to watch before he approached Conner with a message as the running back sat on the medical cart. Conner was then driven to the locker room, covering his eyes.
“JC, he’s everything,” Murray said. “He means everything. I can’t — I already don’t want to talk about it.”
Conner’s injury is another blow for a Cardinals running game that has been stuck in the mud this season — despite Benson’s success. One year after ranking second in yards per carry, Arizona has been in the bottom half of the league in most rushing-game metrics.
Conner finished the day with just 22 yards on nine carries. In total, Cardinals running backs averaged just 3.0 yards per carry in the game, with most of their rushing production coming from Murray’s legs.
Last season, Conner had a career-high 1,094 rushing yards to go with 414 receiving yards. He finished the year with nine touchdowns.
Beyond his on-field impact, Conner is a widely respected leader in the Cardinals locker room — a sentiment that was clear after their defeat.
“It’s a tough one,” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said. “He’s a captain, a leader, an inspirer. So to lose him, that one hurts. Takes it out of you a little bit.”
(This story has been updated to add new information.)