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44m ago

Cardinals’ James Conner Suffers Severe Right Ankle Injury; Reports Point to Surgery and Season in Jeopardy

Multiple outlets report he will undergo ankle surgery, leaving his availability beyond Week 3 uncertain pending a team update.

Sep 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) avoids the tackle by. San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) during the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Conner was carted off early in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium after his right ankle bent awkwardly on a tackle by Jordan Elliott and Marques Sigle, and he was ruled out shortly thereafter.
  • Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed it was an ankle injury but said the severity was not yet known following the 16-15 loss to the 49ers.
  • ESPN and NFL Network reported that Conner is expected to have surgery with an outlook that could end his season, though the Cardinals have not issued an official prognosis.
  • Before exiting, Conner logged nine rushes for 22 yards and three receptions for 15 yards; players from both teams gathered around as he was treated and the broadcast limited replays.
  • With Conner sidelined, Trey Benson is expected to handle lead-back duties with Emari Demercado in support, a significant shift given Conner’s back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 2024 contract extension.