Cardinals Face Running Back Challenges after Multiple Injuries

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals are facing significant challenges in their running back lineup after a flurry of injuries. Following the season-ending injury to James Conner, reports indicate that Trey Benson will also be placed on short-term injured reserve due to a knee injury, sidelining him for 4 to 6 weeks.

This leaves the Cardinals with Emari Demercado and Michael Carter to fill the void. Carter, who joined the team from the New York Jets, will step into a more prominent role after being elevated from the practice squad.

Carter has had a mixed but promising career, currently boasting 281 rushing yards and one touchdown on 58 carries for Arizona. His performance in 2023 was particularly notable, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. However, his recent average has dipped to 3.6 yards per carry.

Demercado, on the other hand, has shown solid statistics, especially during his time as a backup. In his rookie season in 2023, he averaged 9.3 yards per carry and is expected to continue as a third-down option in Week 5.

Coach Jonathan Gannon expressed confidence in both players, stating, “We’ll make some tweaks no matter who’s back there moving forward, but it probably won’t look a ton different to your eye.” He emphasized the need to adapt the offensive strategy to match their skill sets, as they differ significantly from Conner’s and Benson’s.

Quarterback Kyler Murray acknowledged the challenges but remains optimistic about the team’s depth. “You never want to see any of your teammates go out, but he’ll be back. We have full faith in the running back room,” Murray said.

As the Cardinals prepare to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, both Carter and Demercado’s performance will be critical in determining their roles moving forward.