In a close loss to the 49ers today, the Cardinals saw a core player suffer a season-ending injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Arizona running back James Conner will require season-ending surgery on his right ankle. 
In an extremely competitive matchup with the Niners today, disaster struck when Conner got twisted up while getting tackled. It was immediately apparent that the ankle injury was serious in nature as players from both teams took a knee, and a cart eventually came out to remove Conner from the field of play.
The speculation on the severity of Conner’s injury didn’t show much optimism. After a couple hours, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported that a source had told ESPN that Conner’s ankle injury was “severe enough to end his season,” though an official prognosis had not yet been made. Schefter’s official breaking report followed 16 minutes later.
Today’s injury is yet another bump in the road for Conner, who has endured quite a few. As a junior at Pitt in 2015, Conner suffered a torn MCL and, during his rehabilitation process, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After being declared cancer-free, Conner returned for his senior year, and though not as strong as his incredible sophomore campaign with the Panthers, it was good enough for him to be selected in the third round by the team that shares a stadium with his alma mater.
Injuries continued to dog Conner throughout his years in the NFL. Though, until today, he’s never appeared in a single-digit number of games over a full season, he’s never appeared in every game of the season. Out of a potential 135 games, Conner has been available for 110 games, making 84 starts over nine years in the NFL.
His production from season to season has always been a bit of a mixed bag. In his second year with the Steelers, Conner broke out with 973 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in only 13 games, making his first Pro Bowl. In injury-shortened seasons over the remainder of his rookie contract, Conner didn’t surpass 721 yards or six touchdowns in either season.
In Conner’s first year with the Cardinals, Conner only started six of 15 games appearances and totaled 752 rushing yards, but his 15 touchdowns helped him to secure his second Pro Bowl bid. In the three years since, Conner has totaled 2,916 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 42 starts.
With Conner out for the year, the Cardinals will turn to second-year rusher Trey Benson as their new lead back. The former third-round pick out of Florida State only totaled 291 yards and a touchdown on the ground as a rookie, but through the first two games of the year, Benson was outpacing Conner 83 yards to 73 yards despite having 12 fewer carries — most of that yardage came in 52-yard sprint.
Arizona also rosters Emari Demercado, who started two games as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and had 223 rushing yards behind Conner and Benson last year. They also roster Bam Knight, though he’s yet to be active for a game this year, and hold veteran rusher Michael Carter on their practice squad.
At least 13 games played per year in 8/9 seasons. Very durable player. Unfortunate to see.
Connor was the hub and spoke of that offense. Was hoping they would’ve drafted another RB due to Connor’s age and injury history. But hats off to Connor for being such an under the radar key player for them and a solid RB1.
They did, last year, Trey Benson.
Ya he ran it good today. Real bummer for Conner
They did
Bad and unfortunate injury.
That’s lousy. He’s one of my favorite backs in the league and I think he doesn’t get enough credit for how consistently good he’s been despite running behind some questionable lines. I hope Benson can step up. I like watching that offense when it’s working.
I agree. If you had to pick an engine for that offense that keeps it in rhythm, it would be Conner. He’s also their tough yardage guy, as well. To be honest, it was surprising to see that he was nine years in already at this point. He still feels like a younger player in my mind, even though he’s been around a while (and was drafted as a senior).
Pittsburgh let him walk and used a first round pick to replace him four years ago, but Conner has held up. Until now, sadly.