Trey Benson joins James Conner on IR as Cardinals’ backfield thins

The Arizona Cardinals have taken a major blow as they head into their Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. Running back James Conner is already out for the season with a foot injury, but now, his replacement Trey Benson, has also landed on injured reserve with a knee injury, sidelining him for at least four games.

Cardinals to lean on Emari Demercado as RB crisis continues

Benson suffered a meniscus injury during the Cardinals’ Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the meniscus and is expected to miss between four and six weeks.

Benson had been poised to take over as the feature back, having totaled 160 yards across four games, while Conner had two touchdowns before his season-ending injury.

With both Conner and Benson out, Arizona will lean on a committee of Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, and Bam Knight. With Kyler Murray already carrying much of the offensive load, the Cardinals will need creative play-calling to keep the run game viable. For now, the spotlight shifts to Demercado, who is expected to lead the backfield heading into Week 5 against the Titans.

Who Is Emari Demercado?

Demercado went undrafted out of TCU in 2023 before signing with Arizona, where he carved out a role as a gritty, versatile backup. At TCU, he was part of the Horned Frogs’ Cinderella run to the College Football Playoff, showing he could contribute in big-game moments.

At 5′9″, 215 pounds, Demercado is more of a tough, downhill runner than a pure speed back. Because he runs low, defenders have a hard time knocking him off balance, which lets him keep pushing forward. He’s not as explosive as Conner or Benson, but he’s dependable.

In limited action since joining Arizona, Demercado has flashed as a capable change-of-pace back. He’s shown decent vision, patience, and can contribute in the passing game as a check-down option. His first real spotlight came in 2023 when he filled in for an injured Conner and posted 45+ yards in multiple games.

With Benson sidelined and Conner gone for the season, Demercado is the next man up. He’s expected to handle the bulk of early-down work, with Carter and Knight rotating in.

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