The Arizona Cardinals continue to shuffle pieces in their backfield as injuries mount. This has become a recurring theme early in the 2025 season. On Monday, the team announced that running back Michael Carter had been promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The move came after Trey Benson, the current starter, was absent from practice.
The decision underscores just how thin Arizona’s running back depth has become. Veteran James Conner was lost for the season with a foot injury in Week 3. Benson had been elevated to the lead role, but his own knee issue has clouded the team’s rushing plans. In last Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Benson carried the ball eight times for 35 yards. He also added five receptions for 19 yards. These modest numbers highlighted both his potential and the urgency of Arizona’s predicament.
Carter, meanwhile, was pressed into action against Seattle but logged just one carry for a single yard. While his stat line was sparse, his promotion to the 53-man roster sends a clear signal. Head coach Jonathan Gannon intends to rotate through every available option until some consistency is found. Carter has appeared in 10 games with the Cardinals across three seasons (2023–25), mostly in limited spurts. He now faces the most significant opportunity of his tenure in Arizona.
The Cardinals also turned to free agency this week, signing running back D’Ernest Johnson to the practice squad. Johnson most recently spent time on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. He last saw game action with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. He played in 14 games for Jacksonville, carrying 32 times for 143 yards and adding 12 receptions for 96 yards. Although he did not record a touchdown, his experience adds another veteran presence to the Cardinals. This could help if injuries or ineffectiveness persist.
On the defensive side, the Cardinals opened the 21-day practice window for lineman Bilal Nichols. The eighth-year pro was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a neck injury before the season. He has yet to play a snap in 2025. Nichols signed a three-year contract with Arizona in March 2024 after a stop with the Las Vegas Raiders. He last appeared in a game on Oct. 13, 2024, against the Green Bay Packers. He finished that year with 10 tackles in six contests. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Nichols brings both size and veteran leadership to a defensive front that has struggled to maintain pressure.
Arizona also welcomed rookie cornerback Will Johnson back to practice Monday after a groin injury sidelined him for two games. For a defense searching for cohesion after a rocky start, Johnson’s return is timely.
For the Cardinals, currently 2-2, the theme of resilience is unavoidable. Gannon has stressed adaptability. He said recently, “It’s never about one guy to me. Everyone’s got to do their job at a high level.” That message rings especially true for a backfield forced to reinvent itself weekly.
Whether Carter, Johnson, or Benson can provide stability remains to be seen. What is certain is that Arizona’s offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, will need creativity and balance. These are needed to keep defenses from keying on the passing game. With the NFC West as competitive as ever, the Cardinals’ ability to patch holes quickly could determine their season. It could be defined by perseverance or by attrition.
