HEADLINES

Eno Benjamin

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/23

August 6th, 2023 at 8:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves as the weekend comes to a close:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Andrews joins Philadelphia as a potentially strong depth piece on the offensive line. The seven-year veteran has played 48 games over the years with five different teams, so rejoining the Eagles, even with a new staff from when he left, shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Last year, he started five of the six games he played with the Saints.

Woolen underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May and was given a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. He was forced to start camp on the physically unable to perform list, but it’s time for him to make his way back to the field. Last year’s other starter at cornerback, Michael Jackson, has had a great camp and rookie Devon Witherspoon is pushing for a starting role, so Woolen will be glad to get back and reestablish his role in the secondary.

Saints RB Eno Benjamin Ruptures Achilles

August 5th, 2023 at 11:40am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints’ running back depth has taken another hit. Eno Benjamin ruptured his Achilles during practice today, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (via Twitter). The injury will presumably keep Benjamin off the field for the entire 2023 campaign.

[RELATED: Saints’ Alvin Kamara Issued Three-Game Suspension]

According to Brooke Kirchhofer of NOF Network (via Twitter), Benjamin suffered the injury towards the beginning of today’s practice. During QB/RB drills, the 24-year-old went to plant his leg and immediately fell to the ground. Benjamin was then carted off the field and obviously didn’t return to the practice field.

The 2020 seventh-round pick didn’t get into a single game with the Cardinals during his rookie campaign but saw a larger role during his sophomore season. Benjamin finished that year with 160 yards from scrimmage in nine games. The running back had a chance to start for the Cardinals during the 2021 campaign, starting three of his 10 appearances with the organization. However, he was cut by the team midway through the year.

He bounced around the NFL a bit to end the 2022 season. Benjamin had a two-game stint with the Texans before catching on with New Orleans, where he got into three contests. In total, Benjamin finished the 2022 campaign with 506 yards from scrimmage, with almost half of those yards coming via the passing game.

We learned yesterday that the organization would be without Alvin Kamara to begin the season, leaving free agent acquisition Jamaal Williams as the current starting RB. Third-round RB Kendre Miller will likely slide in as the primary backup to begin the season, and Benjamin’s injury could open a roster spot for undrafted rookie Ellis Merriweather.

Saints Make Number Of IR Moves, Claim RB Eno Benjamin

December 14th, 2022 at 8:22pm CST by Ely Allen

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, New Orleans is making preparations, designating center Erik McCoy and linebacker Chase Hansen for return off injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Both players have sat out of the team’s last four games, the minimum amount required to return form IR.

McCoy was placed on IR after leaving New Orleans’ Monday night loss to the Ravens in early-November. The team’s fourth-year starting center left the game with a calf injury and sat out the next five weeks, mirroring his absence from the year before due to similar calf issues. Usual starting right guard Cesar Ruiz, who has center experience from his time as a Wolverine, has been filling in for McCoy with backup lineman Calvin Throckmorton filling Ruiz’s spot at guard. Veteran interior lineman Josh Andrews has also helped to fill out the two positions, starting three of the four games McCoy has missed.

Hansen’s return will add a bit of depth at the linebacker position. The third-year player out of Utah had been a mainstay on the special teams units this season before finding his way to IR.

The team also has officially placed veteran running back Mark Ingram on IR following the slight MCL tear suffered in the team’s more recent Monday night loss to the Buccaneers. The injury to the team’s backup running back has forced New Orleans to make some moves, the first of which being the promotion of practice squad running back David Johnson to the 53-man roster.

The second move made to counter the absence of Ingram is today’s waiver claim of former Texans and Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin, confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Benjamin was released by Arizona a few weeks after a three-week starting run that included a 113-yard, touchdown-scoring performance. He quickly was picked up by the Texans who gave him two weeks to adjust to his new settings before playing him sparingly each of the past two weeks. He received his first carries as a Texan last weekend against the Cowboys before getting waived for the second time this season.

Benjamin was starting to show some production as a backup running back in his second year of NFL play, earning 299 yards off 70 carries before getting waived from the Cardinals. Combining Benjamin with Johnson should provide New Orleans with some solid, fresh legs behind starter Alvin Kamara.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce Expected To Miss Time

December 13th, 2022 at 11:10am CST by Adam La Rose

Week 14 nearly saw the Texans pull off a major upset of the Cowboys, but the more prominent storyline from the game was the exit of running back Dameon Pierce. The standout rookie is likely to miss time as a result of the ankle injury he suffered during the contest.

Pierce went down with a high ankle sprain, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The injury is believed to be relatively mild, which could shorten his recovery time. Wilson reports that Pierce could miss one or two games, which would of course constitute a significant portion of the remaining schedule, but still less than the usual timeframe for high ankle sprains. A three-game absence should not be ruled out, per Fox 26’s Mark Berman (on Twitter). That would introduce a shutdown into the equation, given that four games remain.

Any missed time from the Florida product would be acutely felt by the Texans. Pierce leads all rookies with 939 rushing yards, having started each contest this season and quickly establishing himself as Houston’s most consistent offensive contributor. Despite missing some of the game against the Cowboys, the fourth-rounder still managed to record 78 yards on the ground and score his fourth touchdown of the campaign.

Head coach Lovie Smith declined to provide specifics on the extent of Pierce’s injury when speaking to the media. “It will take an awful lot for him not to play, but, if it’s an injury, of course it can,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s short-term. We’ll see.”

Sitting at 1-11-1 on the year, the Texans have no reason to rush their top producer back in the waning stages of the season. They also made a pair of moves relating to the tailbacks which will fill in for him should he miss time. One is the decision to waive Eno Benjamin, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). That comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the fact that Houston claimed the former Cardinal less than one month ago, seemingly giving him a chance at increased playing time. Instead, Benjamin saw the field for just 12 snaps in his two games as a Texan.

Meanwhile, Houston is adding another back in Gerrid Doaks (Twitter link via Wilson). A seventh-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021, the Cincinnati alum has yet to appear in a regular season game. He will join veteran Rex Burkhead and journeyman Dare Ogunbowale in the backfield until Pierce is able to return.

Saints Bump David Johnson To Active Roster

November 19th, 2022 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 19: Johnson could soon see game action. Three days after adding him on a practice squad deal, the Saints are promoting the veteran running back to their active roster. Johnson has not played since last season.

NOVEMBER 16: Five months after visiting the Saints, David Johnson reached an agreement with the team. The former All-Pro running back will join New Orleans’ practice squad Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

This move comes shortly after the Saints released Jordan Howard and Derrick Gore from their 16-man P-squad. Johnson, 30, met with the team in mid-June. While the sides could not agree on terms at that point, the former Cardinals and Texans back will settle for a practice squad spot months later.

Despite Johnson’s experience and somewhat distant past as an All-Pro-caliber producer, he was not connected to any other teams this offseason. He played out his contract with the Texans last season, after agreeing to rework it, and took his time in free agency. Johnson’s price was too high for the Saints in June, leading to him spending the season’s first half without a team.

The former third-round pick, however, has done very well for himself on the contract front. He parlayed a dominant 2016 slate (2,118 scrimmage yards, 20 touchdowns) into a three-year, $39MM Cardinals extension ahead of the 2018 season. The Cardinals included him in 2020’s DeAndre Hopkins trade, and while the Texans adjusted his deal, Johnson still locked in $4.25MM guaranteed in 2021.

Johnson has not come especially close to replicating that monster sophomore slate. A wrist injury knocked him out for almost all of the 2017 campaign, and by the time he returned in 2018, Bruce Arians had retired and the Cards suddenly sported the league’s worst offense. The Northern Iowa product missed eight games during his Texans stay, again becoming part of a rebuilding situation. After totaling 1,005 scrimmage yards as Houston’s featured back in 2020, Johnson took a backseat last season, when he finished with 453 yards on just 99 touches.

When Johnson visited the Saints this summer, speculation swirled about the team needing more insurance alongside Mark Ingram — Johnson’s ex-Texans teammate — against a potential Alvin Kamara suspension. Arrested in Las Vegas in connection with an alleged assault, Kamara has seen his hearing continually delayed. It has since been tabled again, according to WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel (on Twitter). The perennial Pro Bowl back is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 23, seemingly putting him in the clear of a suspension sidelining him this season.

The Saints have been on the lookout for backs this week. Prior to this Johnson addition, they tried to claim Eno Benjamin on waivers, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. They joined the Chiefs and Seahawks in doing so. Instead, Benjamin — a Cardinals draftee a month after the Johnson trade — will traverse the Johnson path, going from Arizona to Houston.

Texans Claim RB Eno Benjamin

November 15th, 2022 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Eno Benjamin did not make it past the top team in the current waiver hierarchy. The Texans submitted a claim for the former Cardinals running back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

A former seventh-round pick, Benjamin served as James Conner‘s top backup in Arizona this season. The Cardinals’ decision to cut Benjamin caught the contributor by surprise, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). He will now have another chance in Houston, which is taking on this rookie contract. That deal runs through 2023. The Chiefs and Seahawks attempted to claim Benjamin, according to GoPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer (on Twitter).

This move makes sense for Houston, which is still in the early stages of a lengthy rebuild. At 1-7-1, the Texans sit not only in pole position for next year’s No. 1 overall pick — though, it is early obviously — but they can win waiver battles by virtue of this record. The Texans have found a potential long-term starting back this year, in fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce, but Benjamin can perhaps provide a complementary presence.

An Arizona State product, Benjamin did not play during his 2020 rookie slate but has seen action in the years since. The Cards turned to him to fill in for Conner during the recently re-signed starter’s injury hiatus. Benjamin has logged 70 carries for 299 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. The 5-foot-9 back has also contributed as an outlet receiver, catching 24 passes for 184 yards this season.

Since GM Nick Caserio‘s 2021 arrival, the Texans have cycled through a host of running backs. They added the likes of Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram last year. Neither Lindsay nor Ingram finished the 2021 season with Houston, but the team extended Burkhead. This year, the Texans added Marlon Mack and Dare Ogunbowale to the mix. Mack did not make the team, but Pierce leapfrogged Houston’s veteran contingent and has launched an Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.

Benjamin, 23, did not see his two quality Sun Devils seasons lead to much draft interest. He went 22nd in the 2020 draft. Still, he operated as a workhorse back at the Pac-12 program. Benjamin amassed 1,642 yards in 2018, ranking in the top five in Division I-FBS in rushing yards (fifth) and scrimmage yards (fourth, 1,905) as a sophomore. After another 1,000-yard slate as a junior, Benjamin followed the trend and bolted for the NFL rather than expose himself to another high-volume college workload. The Texans figure to still lean on Pierce (772 rushing yards; 4.7 per tote), but it will be somewhat interesting to see if Benjamin can carve out a role during the season’s second half.

Cardinals Release RB Eno Benjamin

November 14th, 2022 at 2:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

In a very surprising move, the Cardinals are moving on from a notable member of their backfield. Arizona has informed Eno Benjamin that he is being released (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The move is now official.

The 23-year-old had taken on a large role earlier in the season, with lead running back James Conner sidelined due to injury. Operating as the undisputed starter between Weeks 6 and 8, Benjamin totaled 151 rushing yards, showcasing his ability to serve as an effective compliment to a healthy Conner.

It also marked an increase in usage for the former seventh-rounder compared to his two previous years in the league. Benjamin did not see game action as a rookie, then received just 34 carries in 2021. Between the injuries to Conner and veteran backup Darrel Williams, though, Benjamin had logged a notable 43% snap share to date. Overall, he totaled 299 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 70 carries (4.3 yards per attempt), adding 184 yards on 24 catches.

Benjamin played just one offensive snap during yesterday’s win over the Rams, as Conner took on a workhorse load. Still, as noted by Schefter’s colleague Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter), the Arizona State alum is “surprised” by the decision to release him. Williams remains on IR, so this move leaves Arizona thin in the backfield.

Benjamin’s production while elevated to the lead role in particular should make him an intriguing add to any number of teams looking for depth at the RB spot. Nonetheless, the Cardinals currently sit 19th in the league with an average of 113 rushing yards per game, so a change aimed at increasing that total with Conner back to full health could be reasonable. By moving on from Benjamin, Arizona will see $895K in cap savings this year, and just over $1MM in 2023.

NFC West Notes: Benjamin, Robinson, Hawks

June 27th, 2022 at 12:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals saw some shuffling in their RB room this offseason, with James Conner getting a new deal, but Chase Edmonds signing with the Dolphins in free agency. That left the No. 2 role up for grabs, making the role one of the roster battles to watch throughout the offseason.

Arizona added quality depth at the position by signing Darrel Williams late last month. The former Chief had by far the best season of his four-year career in 2021, posting more than 1,000 scrimmage yards and scoring eight total touchdowns. The small workload he handled in his three previous campaigns suggests he would be well-suited to a significant backup role behind Conner.

However, an in-house option is currently in the lead for that spot. ESPN’s Josh Weinfus reports that Eno Benjamin has “caught the eye of” head coach Kliff Kingsbury with his work during the spring. The 2020 seventh-rounder saw a limited role behind Conner and Edmonds last season, receiving just 34 carries. Weinfus nevertheless tabs Benjamin as the “frontrunner” for the No. 2 job heading into training camp, where he will compete with Williams to determine the final pecking order.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC West:

  • The Rams made a widely applauded move in free agency by signing wideout Allen Robinson as a replacement for Robert Woods and, potentially, Odell Beckham Jr. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the team consulted Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp before finalizing the deal, an interesting tidbit on their decision-making process and confirmation, as Breer writes, of how the pair “will be invested in seeing that Robinson succeeds” in Los Angeles.
  • The Seahawks have made a pair of front office hires, both in the analytics department. ESPN’s Seth Walder tweets that Seattle is bringing in Becca Erenbaum, who had most recently served as a basketball insights associate with the New York Knicks. She will have the title of senior football research analyst in her new home. The Seahawks are also hiring Peter Engler as a football research assistant. He previously worked with the Charlotte Thunder of the American Arena Football League and the 33rd Team, a front office-driven analysis website.

RB Conner Interested In Returning To Arizona

February 5th, 2022 at 7:49pm CST by Ely Allen

Running back James Conner‘s one-year tryout with the Cardinals worked out pretty well for both parties, and, according to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Conner has expressed interest in returning to Arizona after helping the Cardinals to their first playoff berth in six years.

The third-round Pennsylvania-native spent his first four NFL seasons rushing for the in-state Steelers. His best season came his sophomore year when he had 1,470 yards from scrimmage along with 13 total touchdowns in only 13 games. His time in Pittsburgh saw him miss at least two games each season, missing six games in 2019.

While Conner still missed two games this year, the 18-week season allowed him to play in a career-high 15 games. He totaled 1,127 yards from scrimmage and finished third overall in the league in total touchdowns with 18, behind only Austin Ekeler (20) and Jonathan Taylor (20).

Arizona will see back up running back Chase Edmonds hit free agency, as well, after playing out the last year of his rookie contract. This leaves second-year back Eno Benjamin, out of nearby Arizona State, as the only running back remaining on the roster.

With the cupboard starting to run bare, the Cardinals most likely will be interested in bringing Conner back. Conner has expressed interest in seeing what free agency has to offer, and knowing the Cardinals are in need should leave him in a favorable bargaining position.

Cardinals Round Out Draft Class Deals

July 22nd, 2020 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

In addition to signing first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, the Cardinals finished out their draft class’ rookie-contract agreements Wednesday.

Arizona agreed to terms with third-round tackle Josh Jones, fourth-round defensive linemen Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence, sixth-round linebacker Evan Weaver and seventh-round running back Eno Benjamin. These are all four-year deals.

Jones profiles as the most interesting of these selections, having a path to being Arizona’s starting right tackle in the near future. The Houston blocker was considered a potential first-round talent or a player who would go off the board in Round 2.

Kliff Kingsbury admitted he was stunned to see Jones on the board in Round 3. The Cardinals re-signed Marcus Gilbert, but the longtime Steelers right tackle missed all of last season and much of the 2018 campaign due to injuries. Jones was a four-year starter at left tackle for the Cougars, but the Cards just re-signed longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries.

Benjamin, who played at Arizona State, joins a backfield that lost David Johnson this offseason. The Cards kept Kenyan Drake via the transition tag. Backup Chase Edmonds is signed through 2021, however. Both Fotu and Lawrence figure to compete for rotational spots on a Cards D-line that recently added 2019 Bills sack leader Jordan Phillips.

Here is the Cards’ 2020 draft class:

1-8: Isaiah Simmons, LB (Clemson)
3-72: Josh Jones, T (Houston)
4-114: Leki Fotu, DT (Utah)
4-131: Rashard Lawrence, DT (LSU)
6-202: Evan Weaver, LB (Cal)
7-222: Eno Benjamin, RB (Arizona State)