James Conner. Trey Benson. Bam Knight. All Arizona Cardinals running backs. What else do they have in common? Each one became injured this past season and was handed a bedroll because IR was their new bed and breakfast home.

Arizona has a running back problem.

RELATED: CARDINALS BEEF UP OFFENSIVE LINE IN MOCK DRAFT

All of these are rehabbing and are in different stages of this process. Both Conner and Benson are under contract. So is Corey Kiner, who spent all of last year on three different NFL practice squads, with Arizona in the final spot. And that’s it for the running back room.

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Free agents include Michael Carter, while restricted free agents are Emari Demercado and Knight.

Answer these questions. Will Conner be the same bruising back? Will he have his ability to cut? Will his blocking ability change? When will he return? Will Benson be able to jump cut like he is used to doing? What will his speed be like? What is his timeline?

Conner signed an extension in November of 2024 for two years, but was severely injured last year in Week 3 with a serious foot/ankle injury. This required surgery.

Now that Arizona has hired an offensive guy to run the team, his priority will be to build the offensive line in order to pass protect and have a dependable rushing attack. Well, the roster will need some dynamic ballcarriers in order to do that.

Is Benson and Conner the answer going forward? Yes? No? Maybe?

Conner was a highly-productive player before he became injured. Just maybe when he returns, he isn’t the player he once was. As a Cardinals fan, we want him to be that special back he was prior to his injury. And Benson? He hasn’t had much time to prove that the second round evaluation on him was worth it.

Perhaps the Cardinals need to reach out and sign a new starting running back in the upcoming free agency period. One that stands out is Travis Etienne of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The free agency period begins March 12, but teams can open negotiations from March 9-11.

———————————————————————–

NFL draft: 2021 Round 1, pick #25 (Jaguars)

Accolades: Third Team All-ACC (2017), three-time First Team All-ACC (2018-2020), Second Team All-American (2019), Consensus All-American (2020), National Champion (2018), two-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019), two-time ACC Player of the Year (2018, 2019)

2025 season: 17 starts, 260 attempts, 1,107 yards, 7 touchdowns, 48 first down conversions, 4.3 yards per carry average, 36 receptions, 52 targets, 292 yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, 14 first down catches, 8.1 yards per reception average

Getty Images

Getting a player like Etienne would become a huge plus. He has been a very durable player since he entered the NFL. This was an absolute stud running back at Clemson and a two-time ACC Player of the Year.

Great hands for an RB and has been a steady presence in the Jaguars’ run game. Jacksonville could use the franchise tag on him, but it is more likely not. He has had three out of four seasons with over 1,000 yards, so he can produce. His career NFL receptions are 168 with 1,338 yards and seven TDs, and that’s just the passing game.

Etienne is a highly explosive back with exceptional acceleration and vision. He is good at finding holes and then navigating space at the second level. Excellent receiver who will run crisp routes.

He is iffy in pass blocking and will sometimes run a bit too high. But he is a Week 1 starter and a versatile playmaker.

His income in 2024 was $1.8 million, and in 2025 was $6.14 million.

Projection: Two-years, $16 million