Latest news with #JamesConner
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals to face 6 of NFL's top 10 RBs in 2025
Nearly half of the Cardinals' games in 2025 will be against some of the league's best running backs. Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner came just short of the list of the top 10 running backs in the NFL, according to NFL coaches, scouts and executives. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler did the legwork and research. While the Conner did receive honorable mention, the Cardinals will face many of the top backs in the league. They will not face the top three of the list, but will face a total of six of the 10 and also one of the five who received honorable mention. Top-10 RBs the Cardinals will face in 2025 The Cardinals were 20th in rushing defense last season but 25th in yards per attempt, allowing 4.6 yards per carry. It was a reason why they were dead last plays allowed per drive and second-to-last in time allowed per drive. But with a beefed up defensive line and edge presence, their run defense should be better. Will that be enough to slow this lineup of opposing backs? That is one thing to watch this season. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NFC West RB duo rankings
It is the time of the offseason, as we have done for years here on Cards Wire, where we go through each position and rank players and position groups in the NFC West. We continue by looking at the top running back duos for the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. Not much has changed since last season. The only difference from the start of last season is that the 49ers now have Isaac Guerendo as the primary backup running back instead of Elijah Mitchell or Jordan Mason. Advertisement NFL RB duo rankings: NFC West 1. 49ers: Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo Based on our starting running back and backup running back rankings, this makes sense. McCaffrey is the top starting back in the division, assuming he has recovered fully from last season's injuries. Guerendo is the top backup, too. With the top starter and top backup, combined with probably the best running scheme in the league, this makes sense. 2. Cardinals: James Conner, Trey Benson Conner was third in the starting RB rankings we did behind the Rams' Kyren Williams, but it wasn't by much. He is been a more dynamic and efficient runner than Williams but not as productive. Benson is No. 3 in backups but has starter potential and his production late in the season gives the Cardinals a pairing very similar to the Niners. Advertisement 3. Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet Walker was the lowest-ranked starter but Charbonnet was No. 2 as a backup. Both are productive in the run game and passing game. 4. Rams: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum Williams had nearly 1,300 yards and rushed for 14 scores but Corum had the lowest rushing production and per-carry average of all the backups. The Rams' rushing attack was more workhorse than explosive. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2025 NFC West RB duo rankings
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: RB Michael Carter
The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. Advertisement This focuses on running back Michael Carter. Michael Carter background, 2024 season Carter enters his third year but second full season with the Cardinals. Originally a fourth-round pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, he was waived in November 2023 and the Cardinals claimed him. Finishing the 2023 season, he was the Cardinals' backup running back to James Conner and 149 yards on 6.8 yards per carry. However, last season, after the Cardinals drafted Trey Benson in the third round, Carter didn't earn a spot on the roster out of training camp. Benson was the main backup running back. Carter wasn't as good as Emari Demercado to be the third-down back and isn't the special teams player that DeeJay Dallas is. Advertisement He spent the year on the practice squad until late in the season when injuries hit and he was signed to the active roster. He rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 3.7 yards per carry and caught 11 passes for 57 yards. Michael Carter 2025 contract details, cap hit Carter is scheduled to make $1.17 million against the salary cap and will count $1.27 million against the cap. Questions he faces, roster outlook Carter finds himself in basically the same situation as last offseason. Can he prove he is valuable as a third-down back or on special teams? To make the team, he will need to beat Benson, be better than Demercado to be the third-down back or be able to supplant Dallas on special teams. Advertisement As things stand, he likely will be in the same situation as a season ago, he will be on the outside looking in. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals 2025 training camp roster preview: RB Michael Carter
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: RB James Conner
The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. Advertisement This focuses on running back James Conner. James Conner background, 2024 season Conner entered the NFL in 2017 as a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played there four seasons before signing with the Cardinals in 2021 on a one-year deal. He signed a three-year contract after that and last year added a two-year extension. He has increased his rushing output each season since 2021. He was a Pro Bowler for the second time in 2021 when he had 18 total touchdowns and 1,127 total yards from scrimmage. Last season, he rushed for a career-high 1,094 yards, his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and scored eight touchdowns. He added 47 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown, giving him a career-high 1,508 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns. Advertisement James Conner 2025 contract details, cap hit Conner signed a two-year extension worth $19 million. He received a $6.75 million signing bonus last year and will earn $3.64 million in salary and up to $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses. His cap hit this season is scheduled to be $6.47 million. Questions he faces, roster outlook The only question Conner faces is whether he can continue to play at the level he has over the last two seasons, as he just turned 30 years old. How many targets will he have, and can he surpass last year's rushing total. He said after his 2023 season that he wanted that year (1,040 rushing yards) to be his baseline moving forward. Advertisement As for his roster outlook, he is a lock for the team and is the unquestioned starter and workhorse, although depending on the development of 2024 third-round Trey Benson, he might see fewer touches in 2025. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: RB James Conner
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: RB James Conner
We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about RB James Conner. The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. This focuses on running back James Conner. James Conner background, 2024 season Conner entered the NFL in 2017 as a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played there four seasons before signing with the Cardinals in 2021 on a one-year deal. He signed a three-year contract after that and last year added a two-year extension. He has increased his rushing output each season since 2021. He was a Pro Bowler for the second time in 2021 when he had 18 total touchdowns and 1,127 total yards from scrimmage. Last season, he rushed for a career-high 1,094 yards, his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and scored eight touchdowns. He added 47 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown, giving him a career-high 1,508 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns. James Conner 2025 contract details, cap hit Conner signed a two-year extension worth $19 million. He received a $6.75 million signing bonus last year and will earn $3.64 million in salary and up to $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses. His cap hit this season is scheduled to be $6.47 million. Questions he faces, roster outlook The only question Conner faces is whether he can continue to play at the level he has over the last two seasons, as he just turned 30 years old. How many targets will he have, and can he surpass last year's rushing total. He said after his 2023 season that he wanted that year (1,040 rushing yards) to be his baseline moving forward. As for his roster outlook, he is a lock for the team and is the unquestioned starter and workhorse, although depending on the development of 2024 third-round Trey Benson, he might see fewer touches in 2025. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
