Cardinals place James Conner on IR, sign Michael Carter to active roster

The Arizona Cardinals placed veteran running back James Conner on injured reserve on Wednesday, the team announced.

Additionally, the team signed running back Michael Carter to the active roster from the practice squad.

The news of Conner going on IR comes after head coach Jonathan Gannon earlier in the day ruled the running back out ahead of the team’s season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner is OUT this week vs. the 49ers, per head coach Jonathan Gannon. pic.twitter.com/ZZYHPJn4AN

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) January 1, 2025

“Not going to be healthy enough to play. Everybody else, we’ll see how the week kinda goes here. They’re in meetings right now,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said.

With the veteran sidelined and rookie Trey Benson finishing the year on injured reserve, the runway is clear for Carter to earn the bulk of the snaps.

Filling in the past two games with injuries impacting the running backs room, Carter has registered 18 carries for 88 yards.

He’s also caught seven balls for 41 yards and has picked up eight first downs.

The running back has spent the majority of this season on the practice squad before his recent elevations.

DeeJay Dallas, the only other running back outside of Conner currently on the 53-man roster, could also be in line for added touches.

Tony Jones Jr. and Hassan Hall are two more options Arizona could consider off the practice squad for added depth.

“They all have their roles, but (Carter’s) going to get a bunch of carries, I’m sure,” Gannon said Wednesday.

A season to remember for RB James Conner

Watching Arizona’s season finale from the sideline isn’t what Conner envisioned for the ending to Year 8.

That being said, it was still a season to remember for the veteran running back, who set a career high with 16 games played.

On top of posting a second consecutive 1,000-yard season (1,094) and more rushing touchdowns (eight) than he had in the previous two years, Conner also inked a two-year contract extension with the franchise in November.

“You want to talk about when you’re outside the white lines and what he does from a conditioning standpoint, from a recovery standpoint — I would call that whole bucket physiotherapeutic standpoint — there’s nobody better,” Gannon said of Conner in January.

“If you think that certain guys start to fall off because they get a little older, he’d be the one to delay it, I know that.”

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