Team news: Arizona Cardinals | Page 3

Kyler Murray (foot) will be monitored.

Related players: Jacoby Brissett

Murray was seemingly injured on the play where the snapped ball hit him in the face and the Cardinals lost possession. Murray was shown heading for the locker room but was able to return for the team's next possession after missing a couple of plays. One would assume Murray will be good to go for Week 6, but since the team is monitoring him, we will as well.

Cardinals RB Trey Benson is being placed on injured reserve due to his knee injury.

Related Players: Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, Bam Knight

Well this escalated quickly. Rumblings around the league have Carter, not Demercado, taking the early-down role while the latter handles third-down snaps, but we wouldn't expect either to have anything near a bell-cow role. This is probably a situation we'd like to watch play out before going all-in with either guy, but they should both be in the RB3/4 range for desperate managers.

Coach Jonathan Gannon confirms that James Conner will have surgery and is done for the season.

Related players: Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, Zonovan Knight

We reported earlier today Conner would need surgery and be out indefinitely, but this outcome shouldn't come as any surprise given the way Conner left the field in Week 3. Benson will take over as the lead back and there was another report today Demcercado will slide in as the team's RB2. The Cards could make a move for another back at some point, but for now, look for Benson to be given the first chance to be the new RB1.

Cardinals RB James Conner, who was carted off with his ankle immobilized, will need surgery to repair the injury he suffered, sources say.

Related players: Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, Zonovan Knight

Conner is still undergoing tests to determine the full extent of the damage. But, he is out indefinitely, the post went on to say. Benson will likely take over the lead back duties, and should get usage in both the running and passing game. If for some reason he's still on your waiver wire, he'll be a popular target this week. Benson had three catches but for just nine yards, however, he did end up with 10 carries for 42 yards on the ground. It's possible the team looks to bring in another back with Conner seemingly out a while.

Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. led the Cardinals with 44 receiving yards on Sunday, but he also had a brutal drop when a pass that should have gone for a big gain inexplicably fell out of his hands. After the game he acknowledged that he’s not playing well enough.

“Everybody’s got a job to do and I’m not doing it at a high enough level at the moment,” Harrison said, via ArizonaSports.com. “I think I know what I’m capable of and to go out there and not play to nowhere near my abilities is frustrating. It hurts the team and I need to get better.”

Through three games this season, Harrison has 10 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, the story said. The story added those numbers project to 57 catches for 805 yards and six touchdowns for a 17-game season. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they’re not the kinds of numbers the Cardinals were expecting when they chose Harrison with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the story added. Fantasy owners likely agree. Harrison and QB Kyler Murray reportedly developed more chemistry in the offseason. Harrison's numbers could have been much better had he hauled in the ball he dropped when he was wide open.

Cardinals RB James Conner was carted off the field following an ankle injury during the third quarter against the 49ers.

The fact that both teams came out onto the field in support of Conner as well as the broadcast not initially showing a replay (RedZone did later show a replay) may tell you all you need to know about the situation. Conner had nine rushes for 22 yards and 15 yards on three catches. Look for 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson, who was already getting more work, to step into the lead role.

Last season, the Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. linked up 62 times on 114 targets for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Boosting those numbers could determine Arizona's offensive fate this season.

Thus far, Harrison said he can see the improved connection he and Murray have had this training camp.

"So, I definitely like where we're at," Harrison said. "We just got to go out there and put it on the field."

Those numbers were far behind many QB-WR combos the story pointed out. But the author noted through camp, the preseason and a joint practice with the Denver Broncos, the Murray-Harrison connection appears to have improved. The story went on to say In the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, their only preseason action together, Murray hit Harrison on a 15-yard pass with Harrison coming out of the slot. Murray threw the pass on a straight arrow in front of him and Harrison ran to the pass, which was thrown between three Chiefs defenders. The story also pointed out that Harrison said the duo put in a lot of work this offseason.

RB Isaac Guerendo returned to practice and had an active day. So as Patrick Taylor and Corey Kiner exit due to injuries, Guerendo comes back.

Related players: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Jeff Wilson

It's always news when a potential CMC handcuff is back on the field. Guerendo missed time with a shoulder injury and the rookie James is still out, so Guerendo could secure his RB2 role behind McCaffrey, who has looked good and close to his 2023 form so far in camp, according to reports. Still, those owning CMC likely want to have protection - just in case. Guerendo proved he can do the job last season.

49ers rookie RB Jordan James broke his finger and is getting surgery. Will be out "a couple weeks", Shanahan said

Related Players: Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Corey Kiner, Ameer Abdullah

Guerendo is already sidelined with a shoulder injury so things are pretty thin in the RB room right now. If CMC wasn't already slated for a giant workload, that looks just about locked in at this point. He's an easy first-round click.

Darren Waller has yet to practice for the Dolphins and it's a "tricky" situation, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.

Wednesday was the Fins' final home practice before embarking for the Midwest, as Miami will have a joint practice with the Bears ahead of the teams' preseason opener on Sunday. Thereafter, it's on to Detroit, where more joint practicing awaits before a preseason Week 2 matchup with the Lions

Related Players: Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown

Fantasy drafters are also in a "tricky" situation, as Waller was quite literally done playing football a couple months ago before his un-retirement. He'd probably be a pretty easy stay-away if it weren't for Jonnu Smith's monster TE4 performance in Miami one short year ago. Even with the fantastic opportunity, Waller is best viewed as a streaming option in 2025.