Cardinals send Pro Bowl skill player to injured reserve

Mar 8, 2023; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon introduced some of his staff members and fellow coaches at Arizona Cardinals facility. Photo Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The sputtering 1-4 Arizona Cardinals are going to have to find some more answers on the fly.

Arizona announced on Tuesday that they have placed their RB1 James Conner on injured reserve. As a result, Conner will now miss at least the next four games (through Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns).

We have placed RB James Conner on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/N2dMlCqlvd

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 10, 2023

The two-time Pro Bowler Conner exited with a knee injury in the first half of Arizona’s loss to Cincinnati in Week 5 and did not return. Reports earlier in the day Tuesday indicated that Conner was set to miss multiple weeks with the injury, and now we know he will be out until at least mid-November.

Though he was making headlines more so for smacking dudes on the field, Conner had been operating as Arizona’s three-down bellcow. He posted 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns through Arizona’s first four games and was the most consistent source of offense for the Cardinals.

With Conner now out of the picture for the next month, undrafted rookie Emari Demercado looks poised to take over as the lead back with Keontay Ingram also figuring to get significant work once he gets back from a neck injury. On top of that, the Cardinals could potentially call up the ex-Super Bowl champion RB they recently signed to their practice squad.