The Arizona Cardinals had a crowded running back room even before they drafted Jeremiyah Love.
Now, Love is the unquestioned alpha in the room when healthy and will be joined by veterans Tyler Allgeier and James Conner. However, this leads to a talented running back becoming the odd man out on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster.
The Cardinals have announced that former third-round running back Trey Benson has been released as waived/injured.
Benson was reportedly playing well in camp before another injury ended his time in Arizona.
It’s a disappointing end to a tenure that never got off on the right track.
Why Did the Arizona Cardinals Waive Benson?
The Cardinals drafted Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State University.
He was part of a draft class that included wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson, among others.
The hype was real for Benson, who rushed for 14 touchdowns in his junior season with the Seminoles at 5.8 yards per carry.
He would appear in 13 games with Arizona in his rookie season, rushing for 291 yards and a touchdown on 4.6 YPC.
In 2025, expectations were high for Benson. While Conner was the clear alpha of the room, Benson was the next man up.
However, Benson’s fate would take a turn. Conner would suffer a season-ending injury in Week 3, leaving Benson as the Week 4 starter.
However, in Week 4, Benson would hurt his knee. He had arthroscopic surgery to fix his meniscus, missing the rest of the season.
Facing a roster crunch after the signing of Allgeier and the drafting of Love, it was now or never for Benson. But his knee would flare up, leading to the end of his Cardinals tenure.
What’s Next for the Team?
Arizona will go into the season with the third-overall pick in Love as the bellcow running back. While he suffered an ankle sprain in the preseason, Love should be back for the regular season.
If he is not ready for Week 1, Allgeier or Conner will take the reins. Arizona signed Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million contract in free agency.
As Atlanta Falcons superstar Bijan Robinson’s backup, Allgeier had 610 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 2025. He can likely replicate that performance as a backup for the star rookie.
After those two, without Benson, it appears that Zonovan “Bam” Knight could get reps as the RB3 until Love is back.
Knight started eight games last year amid Arizona’s injury issues at the position, but struggled to 3.3 YPC with five touchdowns from scrimmage.
The oft-injured Benson should receive significant interest on the waiver wire. But if he remains unclaimed, he will revert to the Cardinals’ injured reserve list, where he will likely be released with an injury settlement.
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Cardinals Waive 2024 Third-Round Pick Amid 53-Man Roster Crunch