In the grueling, week-to-week grind of the National Football League, progress is not always a linear path. For athletes recovering from injury, the journey back to the field is often a delicate dance of rehabilitation, testing, and hope. For Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson, that journey has hit a significant and disheartening roadblock. What began as a glimmer of hope for a depleted offensive backfield has now dimmed, as a recent practice report suggests Benson’s recovery has not merely stalled, but has potentially reversed course. This latest development is more than just a minor roster note; it is a microcosm of a season defined by adversity for the Cardinals and a sobering reminder of the fragility of an NFL career.
The initial news was cautiously optimistic. Benson, who had been placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Week 4, was finally designated to return to practice last week. This designation opened a 21-day window for the team to evaluate him and decide whether to activate him to the 53-man roster. The first step in that evaluation, Wednesday’s practice, saw Benson as a limited participant. This is standard protocol—a player tests the injured area in a controlled setting, and the medical and coaching staff assess the response. The expectation, following a positive limited session, is for the player to either remain limited with no setbacks or, ideally, be upgraded to a full participant. The fact that Benson was pulled from practice entirely on Thursday is a stark deviation from that desired trajectory. In the binary language of NFL injury reports, moving from “limited” to “DNP” (Did Not Participate) is a red flag, signaling that the knee did not respond well to the previous day’s workload. This kind of setback often involves renewed swelling, pain, or a lack of stability, forcing the team to shut the player down to prevent further damage.
This setback is “terrible news,” as originally reported, specifically for Benson’s availability for Week 13. The Cardinals are in the thick of their schedule, and every game carries weight for the development of their young team, particularly quarterback Kyler Murray. Having a dynamic, multi-faceted weapon like Benson available would have provided a significant boost to an offense that has had to constantly adapt. Instead, his absence forces the coaching staff to revert to contingency plans, a theme that has become all too familiar in Arizona this season.
To fully grasp the impact of Benson’s stalled return, one must understand the carnage that has beset the Cardinals’ running back room. The anchor of the offense, the Pro Bowl-caliber James Conner, was lost for the season to an injury of his own. Conner is not just a runner; he is a team leader, a powerful short-yardage weapon, and a reliable safety valve in the passing game. His absence created a void that was impossible for any single player to fill. Stepping into that breach was Emari Demercado, who showed flashes of capability and toughness. However, the nature of the running back position is one of constant physical punishment, and Demercado has now found himself on the injury report, adding another name to the list of the walking wounded.
This cascade of injuries has thrust undrafted journeyman Bam Knight into the spotlight as the de facto lead back. Knight has shown admirable effort and has taken advantage of his opportunity, but asking him to carry the full load of a primary NFL running back is a tall order for any player who began the season on the practice squad. His primary backup is now Michael Carter, a former New York Jet who offers experience as a receiving threat but has not been relied upon as a feature runner. This is a far cry from the depth chart the Cardinals envisioned at the start of the season, which featured the established Conner, the promising rookie Benson, and a capable change-of-pace back in Demercado. The unit has been stripped to its bare bones, operating on grit and desperation.
The implications of this crisis extend beyond just the running back position. For Kyler Murray, a consistent running game is not a luxury; it is a necessity for the offense to function at its highest level. A potent ground attack forces defenses to commit an extra defender to the “box,” creating lighter coverage and more favorable matchups in the passing game. It sets up the play-action pass, a staple of any modern offense where Murray’s dual-threat ability is most dangerous. Without a credible rushing threat, defenses can sit back in two-high safety shells, effectively taking away the deep ball and forcing Murray to methodically drive the field with short and intermediate passes. This clogs the middle of the field and increases the likelihood of turnovers. Benson, with his blend of size, speed, and receiving ability, represented a key to unlocking that defensive flexibility. His absence keeps one of the offense’s potential catalysts on the sideline.
For Benson personally, this setback is a frustrating pause in what was meant to be his foundational rookie year. The first season is crucial for a young player’s development, allowing them to acclimate to the speed and complexity of the professional game, build chemistry with teammates, and prove their value to the coaching staff. Every practice rep and game snap is an investment in their future. Being sidelined not only halts that development but also raises questions. Is this a simple flare-up, or is it indicative of a more chronic issue with the knee? The organization will undoubtedly exercise extreme caution with a player they see as a part of their long-term future, but the mental toll of a prolonged recovery cannot be underestimated.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals’ options are limited. The team will likely continue to lean heavily on the Knight-Carter tandem while hoping Demercado can return to health to provide some relief. They may also look to the free-agent market, though the pickings are slim at this stage of the season. The primary focus, however, will be on Benson’s rehabilitation. The team will now have to re-evaluate his recovery plan, likely incorporating more rest and targeted therapy before attempting another return to the practice field. The 21-day window to activate him remains open, but the clock is ticking.
the simple update that Trey Benson did not practice on Thursday is a ripple that expands into a wave of consequences for the Arizona Cardinals. It is a story of individual frustration and collective adversity. It highlights the brutal, unforgiving nature of professional football, where a single position group can be decimated by misfortune, forcing a team to scramble and adapt. For now, the Cardinals’ ground game remains in a state of emergency, and the hoped-for return of their promising rookie has been put on indefinite hold, a disappointing turn in a season already filled with too many of them.
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