Cardinals RB James Conner reportedly out for season after injuring ankle

Field Level Media|published: Sun 21st September, 22:36 2025

Sep 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Arizona Cardinals two-time Pro Bowl running back James Conner will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in Sunday's game, ESPN reported.

The injury occurred in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif. The Cardinals were trailing 6-3 at the time and lost the game 16-15.

Conner had his right leg bent awkwardly underneath him while being tackled near the line of scrimmage on a carry. He immediately appeared to be in a great deal of pain and was loaded onto the cart with teammates all around him.

He finished with 22 yards on nine carries and had three receptions for 15 yards. He posted 95 yards rushing and 38 receiving on eight receptions this season, scoring once on the ground and once on a catch.

Conner, 30, is in his fifth season with the Cardinals after spending the 2017-20 seasons with Pittsburgh, which selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2021.

Conner had the first two 1,000-yard seasons of his NFL career in 2023 and 2024, rushing for 2,134 yards and 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons. With 6,043 career yards entering Sunday's game, he ranked 11th on the NFL's active rushing yards leaders list.

Trey Benson figures to be the Cardinals' lead back, carrying 10 times for 42 yards on Sunday and running for 125 yards on 21 carries so far this season.

--Field Level Media

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