Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner expected to play Sunday, report says

The Arizona Cardinals are likely to have starting running back James Conner on the field Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday night.

The Cardinals, though, want to see Conner in warm ups before making the final decision, Schefter tweeted.

Conner was listed questionable on Friday’s injury report with a ribs issue, which has held him out since Week 5 after he sustained the injury against the Philadelphia Eagles.

James Conner takes it in for 6. pic.twitter.com/q61xRcejlu

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 18, 2022

Eno Benjamin has taken the bulk of the carries in place of Conner, and the veteran’s return will give Arizona’s ground game a 1-2 punch again.

Benjamin had a career game in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown, but the Cardinals largely struggled to get the run game going in Weeks 6 and 8.

Conner has picked up 3.7 yards per rush and has 14 receptions this season, his second in the desert.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said last week Conner wanted to play vs. the Minnesota Vikings, but it was in his best interest to hold him out another week.

Arizona presently has three running backs on the active roster with rookie Keaontay Ingram. Darrel Williams was placed on injured reserve this week (hip), and the Cardinals did not elevate a running back from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.

Kickoff in Glendale is at 2:25 p.m. Tune in on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

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