ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals RB, ASU product Eno Benjamin scores TD in preseason win vs. Dallas

Aug 13, 2021, 11:25 PM | Updated: 11:36 pm

Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin had a busy Friday night in a 19-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

On top of getting reps in the backfield for the team’s preseason opener, Benjamin was making appearances on kick return duty and the kickoff team too.

Benjamin, a seventh-round pick in 2020 out of Arizona State, was on the roster last year but was not active for any game. On Friday night, Benjamin played like a guy trying to avoid that same fate this season.

“It was a great feeling,” he said postgame of suiting up and playing. “Everything about tonight felt great.”

That included getting his first touchdown as a member of the Cardinals, which also happened to be the only of the game on Friday.

Benjamin’s six-yard rush in the second quarter put Arizona in front 10-3 in the second quarter.

He also had a carry go for 38 yards in the third quarter.

Benjamin racked up 50 yards on five carries.

With his competition at third-string Jonathan Ward ruled out due to an ankle injury, Benjamin could get more opportunities in the future.

During training camp, head coach Kliff Kingsbury was high on Benjamin’s year-to-year improvement.

“It’s good to see, I can’t tell you how far he’s come from last training camp to now just the way he’s approaching the game, study habits in the classroom, on the field,” the head coach said in early August.

The coach said more of the same after Friday’s game.

“We’ve always known what he can do with the ball in his hands,” Kingsbury said of Benjamin. “He’s a dynamic runner, has great vision, great feet, except for the position. Last year was unfortunate for him that he didn’t get his preseason reps but he’s done a really nice job in camp. Much more focused, much more dialed in and is playing at a high level.”

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

10 hours ago

Rams, Arizona...

Alex Weiner

Cardinals play great hosts, as Rams crush Vikings in playoff game moved to Arizona due to wildfires

The Rams traveled to a home game away from home as their city continues to fight destructive wildfires, and they dominated the Vikings in Arizona.

22 hours ago

The Arizona Cardinals signed three players to future contracts for the 2025 season, the team announ...

David Veenstra

Cardinals sign 3 players to future contracts

The Arizona Cardinals signed three players to future contracts for the 2025 season, the team announced Monday.

1 day ago

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy talks to reporters following an NFL football game against t...

Kevin Zimmerman

Mike McCarthy out as Cowboys head coach

Mike McCarthy is not returning as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

1 day ago

The Dolphins and Chargers played in Arizona due to California fires in 2003...

Alex Weiner

This isn’t the 1st time wildfires moved a game to Arizona: Revisiting Chargers-Dolphins in 2003

The NFL has moved a wildfire-impacted game to Arizona before, and ASU's staff undertook a last-minute turnaround to make it happen.

1 day ago

Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes as the Philadelphia Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a ...

Associated Press

Jalen Hurts throws 2 touchdown passes to lead Eagles past Packers in NFC playoffs

Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes as the Philadelphia Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.

2 days ago

Cardinals RB, ASU product Eno Benjamin scores TD in preseason win vs. Dallas