In his news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon revealed one injury boost and one injury blow.

After missing six games with a knee injury, running back Trey Benson will return to practice on Nov. 19, Gannon said. That opens Benson’s three-week practice window, meaning he must be activated off injured reserve by Dec. 10.

Benson, though, will likely be activated well before then. Three weeks ago, when cornerback Garrett Williams returned from injured reserve after a similar absence with a knee injury, he returned to game action in the same week that he returned to practice.

Gannon did not provide much insight into whether Benson will be able to play in Week 12 against the Jaguars, saying only that he needs to be “mentally and physically ready to go.” When asked whether that is a possibility, Gannon said, “take it day-by-day.”

Benson, a 2024 third-round pick, will likely slide back into a workhorse role when he returns to the field. In his lone start after James Conner’s season-ending foot injury, Benson took on eight of 11 running back carries and saw five targets in a negative game script.

In Benson’s absence, nobody has made a particularly compelling case for increased snaps. Bam Knight has averaged 3.4 yards per carry and Michael Carter has averaged 2.7. Benson sits at 5.5 yards per carry — 1.8 higher than expected, based on Next Gen Stats player tracking data.  

Plus, Emari Demercado, who is often used as their change-of-pace back on passing downs, is now out with an ankle sprain. The Cardinals could use Carter in that role, as they have when Demercado was dealing with previous injuries, but Demercado’s injury opens a pathway to an even larger snap share for Benson.

On the flip side, the Cardinals will again be without Marvin Harrison Jr., who underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis on Monday, Nov. 10.

In Harrison’s place, wide receiver Michael Wilson put up a massive performance, with 15 catches on 18 targets for 185 yards. It was the most receiving yards of any player in the league this season, albeit in a game in which the Cardinals passed 57 times, setting an NFL record with 47 completions.

Wilson and tight end Trey McBride combined to command 51.8% of the Cardinals’ targets, as none of their secondary wide receivers stepped up in a notable way.

The Cardinals now face the Jaguars, who are allowing the seventh most receiving yards per game, at 236.9.