Trey Benson's Comeback: A Beacon of Hope for Cardinals' Struggling Ground Game
The Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season was supposed to mark Trey Benson's emergence as their featured starting running back. However, injuries have transformed the backfield into a revolving door of uncertainty. What began as a promising campaign has become a test of depth and resilience for the Cardinals' rushing attack.
Injury Woes Plague Cardinals Backfield
The trouble started when veteran James Conner suffered a season-ending injury, thrusting Benson into the starting role. Unfortunately, Benson's opportunity was short-lived—he sustained a knee injury during his very first start, adding to Arizona's backfield crisis. Since these setbacks, the Cardinals have cycled through multiple replacements including Emari Demercado, Bam Knight, and Michael Carter, with none delivering significant success.
Now there's renewed optimism as Benson has returned to practice, with his 21-day return window officially activated. The upcoming Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers represents a critical opportunity for Arizona to reset their struggling ground game and properly evaluate whether Benson can become their long-term solution at running back.
Why Benson's Return Matters
Benson's recovery took a positive turn last week when he participated as a limited participant in practice. The Cardinals exercised caution by holding him out against the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially with Emari Demercado also sidelined. This forced Arizona to rely heavily on Michael Carter and Bam Knight, a combination that highlighted the position's current limitations.
The statistics tell a concerning story: no Arizona running back has scored above "80" in PFSN's Impact Rankings all season. Michael Carter's Week 6 rating of 78.5 remains the highest mark achieved, underscoring the unit's inconsistency and the significant void left by Conner and Benson's absences.
What makes Benson particularly valuable is his unique skill set combining burst, vision, and power—qualities currently missing from the running back rotation. His rookie performance of 4.6 yards per carry demonstrated efficiency, and he improved that to an impressive 5.5 yards per attempt in limited action this season before his injury. Though his lone start ended prematurely, these numbers present a compelling case for giving him substantial playing time once medically cleared.
Looking Beyond the 2025 Season
With a 3-8 record and effectively eliminated from playoff contention, Arizona's focus has shifted toward player development and future roster construction. Benson's return isn't just about stabilizing the offense for the remaining games—it's about gathering crucial data to determine whether he can anchor the backfield beyond 2025.
If healthy, Benson is expected to immediately reclaim the starting position, giving the Cardinals a much-needed opportunity to evaluate his potential over the season's final stretch. The coming weeks will be crucial for both Benson's career trajectory and Arizona's offensive planning for the future.
