Trey Benson

Benson suffered a meniscus injury in Week 4 of 2025 and will not return until 2026 training camp. The Cardinals officially closed his 21-day activation window in December 2025, ending his season.

With both Conner (season-ending foot injury) and Benson sidelined, the Cardinals backfield remains unsettled heading into 2026. Michael Carter and Bam Knight are currently managing snaps, creating uncertainty about Benson's role clarity next season.

Benson underwent meniscus surgery after Week 4 of 2025 and was shut down for the entire remainder of the season despite initial 4-6 week recovery estimates. Meniscal injuries carry variable recovery and recurrence risk, raising genuine durability questions entering 2026 training camp.

The Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier to a 2-year, $12.25M deal in the 2026 offseason, making him the projected RB1. That investment signals Arizona does not view Benson as reliable enough for the lead role, materially narrowing his near-term path to featured-back status.

Arizona used the #3 overall pick on Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love — the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018. Love vaults immediately to the top of the Cardinals depth chart as the franchise's long-term RB1 investment, effectively ending Benson's path to a featured role in Arizona.

Benson now sits behind Love (#3 pick), Tyler Allgeier ($12.25M two-year signing), and a restructured James Conner — three backs who all carry more team equity in draft capital, contract status, or veteran standing. His path to meaningful dynasty volume in this offense has essentially closed.

James Conner (33 years old) is deteriorating, and Arizona may view 2025 as the year to transition to Benson as the primary ball carrier. This could unlock significant volume and goal-line opportunity upside.

Conner's season-ending injury and potential release opens a clear path for Benson to compete for the lead back role in 2026. New coaching staff may prefer building around younger, cheaper talent rather than aging veterans.

James Conner will be 31 in 2026 and suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3 of 2025. Arizona can save significant cap space ($8M+ in dead money savings) by releasing him, potentially opening the door for Benson to compete for the RB1 role.

At just 23, Benson is squarely in the dynasty buy window for running backs. If he can secure the lead role at any point in 2026 or 2027, his age provides a 3-4 year window of peak production value.

Allgeier is a committee-back profile player, not an elite standalone RB1, and Conner is 31 coming off his own foot surgery. A subpar Allgeier performance or another Conner health issue could rapidly elevate Benson to the top of the depth chart mid-season.

At 23 with a 5.52 YPC average, 10 forced missed tackles, and a 93% catch rate in his 2025 four-game sample, Benson profiles as a legitimate zone-scheme receiver-back. A trade to a RB-needy team could unlock the dynasty ceiling that Arizona's crowded room has buried.