Josh Weinfuss
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Arizona Cardinals working again James Conner suffered a season-ending proper ankle damage throughout Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, a supply informed ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday.
Conner was carted off the sphere after a 9-yard run with 12:26 remaining within the third quarter of the Cardinals' 16-15 defeat. The damage is taken into account “extreme” and would require surgical procedure, the supply informed ESPN.
After the sport, Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned he did not know the severity of the damage, as a prognosis hadn't but been made.
The Cardinals are heading into a brief week earlier than internet hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night time.
Gamers from each groups took a knee as trainers rapidly attended to Conner after he went down. All the Cardinals' bench walked onto the sphere to verify on their captain as he was loaded onto the cart.
“It is considered one of my greatest pals on the crew,” backup working again Trey Benson mentioned. “It was like a giant brother to me — my mentor. He taught me a variety of stuff right here, so it was powerful [to watch].”
Quarterback Kyler Murray was visibly upset on the sphere whereas Conner was getting checked out.
“Yeah, it is unlucky,” Murray mentioned after the sport. “Simply not solely is he my teammate, I really feel like that is a brother of mine. Simply to see him go down like that, you by no means need to see that. I perceive it is a part of the sport, however it isn't supreme. All of the work that he places in and simply who he's as an individual, you do not need to see him get damage like that. Yeah, it is powerful.”
Added Murray: “He is every little thing, means every little thing.”
Gannon mentioned accidents are a part of the sport, and gamers must “simply be skilled” to get via it.
The 30-year-old Conner had 9 carries for 22 yards earlier than his damage, which got here on his longest run since Week 1. He was coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons — the primary of his profession.
He signed a two-year extension in November 2024 that was to maintain him in Arizona via the 2026 season. His $3.64 million base wage for this yr is assured for damage.
With Conner out for the remainder of the season, Benson is predicted to raise into the beginning working again function adopted by Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. Arizona additionally has Michael Carter, who had 131 yards and a landing on 35 carries final season, on the observe squad.
Arizona has carried 4 working backs — with three up on recreation day — this season.
