The Arizona Cardinals will not be activating Trey Benson from the NFL Injured Reserve this season. ESPN insider Adam Schefter announced the Cardinals’ decision on Benson via Twitter, writing that “his season is over.”
Arizona’s young running back of the future injured his knee on September 25 and was placed on the IR one week later. Benson was initially expected to return in late November. In a lost season for the 3-10 Cardinals, the team decided to keep Benson on the sidelines for its last four weeks of football.
With Arizona missing its RB1 in Benson, its QB1 in Kyler Murray, and potentially its young star receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., the stage is set for potentially massive offseason changes as the Cardinals trudge their way to one of the worst records in football despite a talented roster.
Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer gave his honest take on the harsh reality of Gannon’s current job security – or lack thereof.
"I certainly don't think he's safe right now. I don't know what the owner's going to do, but it does feel to me like some level of change is coming … You can't lose (ten out of eleven games) and expect that to go unchecked. I think there's going to be significant change after the year almost regardless,” Breer said.
Arizona’s latest announcement on Benson, who was originally designated to return on November 19, will further the narrative that the Cardinals are throwing in the towel. This is an all-around bad look for Gannon, who has led Arizona to a putrid 15-32 record across nearly three seasons as head coach.
The Cardinals have won just five games against opponents with winning records during Gannon’s tenure. Gannon will almost certainly find himself in the hot seat this offseason, and that seat just got hotter with the latest news on Benson.