The Arizona Cardinals are still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to running back Trey Benson, who remained sidelined in Week 13 as he continues to recover from a knee injury that’s kept him out since early October.
Benson, the second-year back with explosive upside, landed on injured reserve after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in Week 4. He was cleared to return to practice a few weeks ago, but the road back hasn’t been smooth.
Last week, he was trending in the wrong direction-going from limited participation to a full no-show on Thursday and Friday. That’s typically not a great sign for a player trying to ramp up activity.
So what’s the outlook for Week 14?
Jonathan Gannon’s Update: “We’ll See”
That was the response from head coach Jonathan Gannon when asked about Benson’s status heading into the week. It’s not exactly a green light, but it’s not a definitive shutdown either.
The Cardinals are set to release their first injury report of the week later today, and that’ll give us a better idea of where things stand. If Benson can log even a limited practice on Wednesday, that would be a step in the right direction after last week’s regression.
Still, based on how things have trended, the odds of Benson suiting up this Sunday feel pretty slim-less than 50%, if we’re putting a number on it. The fact that he was downgraded in practice last week suggests something may have flared up, though the team hasn’t confirmed a setback.
Gannon has been careful with his language. He’s avoided calling it a setback and continues to emphasize that Benson is being evaluated “day by day.”
That’s been the party line for a few weeks now. As team reporter Darren Urban noted, the next major checkpoint isn’t just practice-it’s the looming deadline to activate Benson from injured reserve.
Clock Is Ticking on IR Window
Here’s the key detail: once a player is designated to return from IR, the team has a 21-day window to officially activate him. For Benson, that deadline hits on December 10. If he’s not activated by then, he’ll be shut down for the rest of the season.
So the Cardinals are facing a decision. They could try to squeeze him in this week, but based on his lack of practice activity, it’s more likely they take the cautious route and give him another week. That would push a potential return to Week 15.
In the meantime, the Cardinals will keep leaning on their current backfield rotation while keeping a close eye on Benson’s progress. His return could provide a spark down the stretch-but only if he’s truly ready. We’ll know more soon, starting with Wednesday’s injury report.