The Arizona Cardinals are placing running back Trey Benson on injured reserve with a knee injury, head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Wednesday.
Gannon said Benson is expected to return this season, but he will have to miss at least the next four games.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Benson will miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus. Schefter said Benson banged his knee late in last Thursday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Arizona will have to manage without its top two running backs for the the time being.
Benson had stepped into a starting role since James Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. Benson did not practice on Monday, and the Cardinals signed running back Michael Carter off the practice squad.
Emari Demercado, Bam Knight and Carter are options to fill in snaps at running back as Benson misses time.
Benson, a second-year player out of Florida State, carried the ball eight times for 35 yards last week in a 23-20 loss to Seattle. He also recorded five catches for an additional 19 yards.
In an increased role this season, Benson has 29 carries for 160 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and 13 receptions for 64 yards.
He is second in the NFL with 1.76 rushing yards over expected per attempt, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Titans have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards in the NFL this year, with 566 through four games. They are the only team that has surrendered three 40-yard rushes.
Arizona additionally signed running back Jermar Jefferson and cornerback Jaden Davis to the practice squad and released cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe from the practice squad.
