The Arizona Cardinals will be without running back Trey Benson once again in Week 14, and at this point, there's real concern that we may not see him again this season.
Benson, who stepped into the spotlight after James Conner went down with a season-ending injury, has been sidelined since Week 5 with a knee issue. He was placed on injured reserve and designated to return last week, giving some hope that he might rejoin the backfield soon.
But after a limited showing in practice during Week 13, Benson hasn’t been seen on the field since-missing five straight sessions. That kind of absence usually signals one thing: a setback.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Friday that Benson won’t be activated for this weekend’s game and admitted he isn’t sure whether the second-year back will return at all in 2025. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a young player who was finally getting his shot to prove he could handle a starting role.
Let’s be real-this was Benson’s window. With Conner out, the opportunity was right there for him to take the reins and show he could be the guy.
But the injury derailed that momentum, and now, instead of building a case for a larger role in 2026, Benson’s future is back in question. It’s not just about missing games-it’s about missing crucial reps, especially for a young back trying to carve out his place in the league.
With Benson still sidelined, the Cardinals will continue to roll with Bam Knight as the lead back. Knight has shown flashes, but consistency has been elusive.
Behind him, Emari Demercado and Michael Carter will continue to split change-of-pace duties. It’s a committee approach, and while it’s serviceable, it’s far from ideal.
The Cardinals have been in evaluation mode for much of the season, and Benson was one of the players they were hoping to get a longer look at. Now, they’ll have to wait-and so will he.