Cardinals’ James Conner active vs Rams, Trey Benson out

On By Littum

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Conner is officially active for Saturday night’s game between Cardinals and Rams. Trey Benson, Arizona’s backup running back, remains out with an ankle injury.

Conner logged three consecutive limited practices this week after suffering a knee injury in the second half of last week’s loss to the Panthers. He did not return to the game. That loss eliminated the Cardinals from the playoffs, but head coach Jonathan Gannon insisted all week that Conner wanted to play and would if he was healthy — despite recently signing a two-year extension that kept him in Arizona’s future plans.

Conner has been a force in the Cardinals’ backfield all season with a career-high 1,500 scrimmage yards. If he is able to play in each of the team’s final two games, it would be the first time in his career that he has done so.

On Saturday, he will face a Rams run defense that ranks in the bottom third of the NFL, allowing 4.6 yards per carry. carry. However, he will have to do that without the Cardinals’ two starting tackles, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams, who is out this season. In their place, the Cardinals will start Kelvin Beachum and Jackson Barton.

With Benson out, the Cardinals lifted Michael Carter from the practice squad. He will serve as Conner’s primary backup, while DeeJay Dallas – who is primarily a return man – is the third active running back.

Benson suffered his ankle injury late in the Cardinals’ Week 15 win over the Patriots and missed last week’s game at Carolina.

Left guard Evan Brown and edge rusher Baron Browning are both active after being listed as questionable with neck injuries. On the Rams’ side, right tackle Rob Havenstein is inactive with a shoulder injury. Joe Noteboom starts in his place.