Who Could Be the Cardinals Replacement at Running Back After Losing Their Starter for the Season?

As if losing their first game of the season to a divisional rival wasn’t enough already, the Arizona Cardinals will look to rebound from their loss without their starting running back for the remainder of the 2025 season. Running back James Conner has been a key piece for the Arizona offense since joining the team back in 2021, as he’s accumulated at least 1,000 all-purpose yards in every season as a Cardinal. While his start to the 2025 season hasn’t gone as planned, Conner was bound to have at least a couple of games where he breaks out for 100 or more all-purpose yards, like he has typically done thus far. However, that will not come to fruition, as Conner suffered a gruesome right foot injury early in the third quarter of the Cardinals' 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week Three, requiring surgery and thus ending his season. For someone who has made such a significant impact not only as a player but also as a leader, it will hurt Arizona more than they anticipate. Now, as the Cardinals prepare for a short week matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, they’ll look for someone to fill Conner’s shoes for the remainder of the season. The question is, who will it be?

Current Arizona Running Back Room

In Conner’s absence, the Cardinals have three running backs on the active roster in Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, and Zonovan “Bam” Knight. Benson is expected to get the most workload out of the gate, as he’s seen the most playing time out of the three backs this season. The 66th overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft has shown flashes with a couple of explosive runs, but hasn’t seen enough playing time to sustain success. In his rookie season, Benson played in 13 games, rushing for 291 yards on 63 attempts with one touchdown, along with accumulating 59 yards on six catches. This season, Benson has already amassed 125 yards on 21 attempts, while catching eight passes for 45 yards. The next running back in the depth chart is Demercado, who has an extra year on Benson and has shown similar stats thus far. Demercado’s best year with Arizona was his rookie year, in which the undrafted free agent rushed for 284 yards on 52 attempts with two touchdowns, while catching 21 passes for 119 yards as well. Despite seeing a downtick in production last season, Demercado found ways to keep his spot on the Cardinals roster heading into this season. Unlike Benson, Demercado has yet to register a single yard on only two carries, and most recently had a crucial drop that would’ve been an easy walk-in touchdown in the third quarter that could’ve resulted in Arizona coming out of San Francisco with a win. Lastly, there is Knight, who had to work his way in the preseason to earn a spot on the 53-man roster heading into the 2025 season. Before joining the Cardinals, Knight bounced around between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions before settling in Arizona. Knight’s best season came in his rookie season with New York, as the 2022 undrafted free agent rushed for 300 yards on 85 attempts and one touchdown, while catching 13 passes for 100 yards. However, Knight did not see any playing time last season, so he’ll be looking to make the most of his opportunity with Conner out for the season.

While Benson, Demercado, and Knight all hold roster spots, one running back could make his case to make the roster as he currently sits on the Cardinals' practice squad. Michael Carter, who has not only seen success with Arizona but with the Jets as well, can potentially see his way back onto the regular season roster with Conner’s injury. Like Knight, Carter also had an impressive preseason, but was left just outside of the Cardinals' regular season roster. Just like the three running backs on the active roster, Carter saw his most successful season in his rookie year in New York, as the former 107th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft rushed for 639 yards on 147 attempts for four touchdowns, while also catching 36 passes for 325 yards. Carter’s sophomore season would yield similar stats, but he would go on to receive less production as the years went on. However, after being cut midway through the 2023 season by the Jets, Carter would then sign with Arizona, where he would see limited production for the past two seasons. Heading into the regular season, the Cardinals were able to keep some of their high producers during the preseason on their practice squad, with some already being elevated to the active roster. Carter could end up being the next player to see his opportunity arise, as he looks to make a difference this season. 

Potential Acquisitions (Via Free Agency or Trade)

While this scenario would seem unlikely given the depth that Arizona has at this position, it is worth mentioning some names that could potentially help the Cardinals for this season and beyond. Starting with the free agent market, there isn’t a lot to go off of, but some could provide the ground and pound production that Conner offered when he was out on the field. Free agent running backs like Jamaal Williams, Gus Edwards, and D’Onta Foreman all present abilities to be running backs that can work hard to get the short yardage needed in certain situations, along with having multiple years of NFL experience. While the contracts of Williams and Edwards may be too high, along with both backs being the age of 30, Foreman could be the best budget pick, while also being a year younger than Williams and Edwards as well. Another name that stands out is Chase Edmonds, who has had previous success in Arizona for multiple years. The 134th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft played four seasons with the Cardinals, with his final season being the most productive in terms of yardage. In 2021, Edmonds rushed for a career high of 592 yards on 116 attempts with two touchdowns, while also catching 43 passes for 311 yards. Despite being two seasons out of the NFL, Edmonds would likely also come as a cheap option with plenty of experience in the desert. As for the trade market, three running backs have been thrown around as potential trade candidates: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr., New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Each of these running backs has had pressure put on them with younger backs looking to pass them on the depth chart, and could very well end up being shipped out before year's end. However, it remains very unlikely that Arizona chooses to go this route, but anything can happen in the NFL, so all that remains is to see what the Cardinals choose to do as they progress through the rest of the season without their starting running back.