The Arizona Cardinals have ended the injury-riddled Trey Benson era five months after drafting Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
Cardinals reporter Darren Urban announced Monday, “Josh Sweat is back on the practice field. Trey Benson is not. The Cardinals activated Sweat on Monday from the Physically Unable to Perform list, getting the team’s top pass rusher back in time for some work in Green Bay later this week.”
“But Benson, the oft-injured running back who has been sidelined with a knee issue, is no longer part of the team’s deep running backs room after the Cardinals released him as waived/injured.”
That’s it for Benson in the desert, at least for now. Here’s where he might land next (teams are listed in ascending order; No. 1 = Benson’s most logical landing spot).
7 Teams That Could Take a Chance on Trey Benson
7. Dallas Cowboys
It’s the Javonte Williams show in Dallas at RB1, followed by Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis. The rest of the Cowboys’ RB room does not have much oomph At his theoretical peak, Benson would fit nicely on America’s Team.
Benson would give Dallas a young, possibly explosive player with real starting potential once healthy. The Cowboys wouldn’t need him right away, which would allow his knee to heal and give them time to evaluate him.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray – – he’s the Vikings’ quarterback, and he spent two seasons with Benson in Arizona.
Minnesota’s current running back roster – – Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, rookie Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, and Jermar Jefferson – – suggests Benson would not likely see immediate playing time. But his long-term potential, particularly looking ahead to 2027, makes him a fascinating option.
Both Jones and Mason will be in the final year of their contracts, and Benson, a 24-year-old former 3rd-rounder, demonstrated the ability to create big plays at Florida State. The situation would give head coach Kevin O’Connell time to watch Benson recover and evaluate his capabilities throughout the 2026 season.
Should the Vikings opt for a change at running back, Benson could emerge as a youthful, cost-effective option for the 2027 offseason.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders had an Ashtony Jeanty scare on Sunday. If you play fantasy football, you know all about it. Jeanty’s sprained ankle isn’t ideal, making the Raiders’ star’s situation somewhat precarious and highlighting their need for depth.
Currently, Mike Washington, Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale, and Roman Hemby are behind Jeanty on the depth chart. Benson, assuming his knee is healthy soon, would offer more NFL experience and starting-caliber physical skills than most of Las Vegas’s backup options.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Benson went to Florida State, which isn’t terribly far from Jacksonville, and those geographic ties sometimes matter in free agency.
Losing Travis Etienne in free agency, Jacksonville enters the 2026 season with a projected backfield of Chris Rodriguez Jr., Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr. Allen is currently sidelined with a soft-tissue injury, and none of these backs have proven themselves as NFL feature RB1s.
Benson is an upside acquisition for Liam Coen’s offense. If he stays healthy, his combination of size and burst could create genuine competition down the road.
3. Buffalo Bills
Two coaches from the Cardinals’ 2025 staff landed in Buffalo, albeit in special teams and wide receiver specialties. Coach-player ties matter in sports, and if someone in Buffalo wants to give Benson a look, those departed coaches (Drew Terrell and Jeff Rodgers) could give him a call.
Buffalo has James Cook entrenched as their primary back, but Benson presents a compelling option as a long-term backup. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson round out the main backfield, while Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler are competing for roster spots. Benson would face a crowded running back room, but that’s the way it goes with a late August roster cut.
Given their Josh Allen-centric offense, a healthy Benson would add another dynamic young runner to the system.
2. Detroit Lions
Two words here: Drew Petzing. That guy ran the Cardinals’ offense during the Jonathan Gannon era, and now he’s the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Better than anybody as of late, Petzing knows what Benson can bring to the table.
Benson would join Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco on Detroit’s RB depth chart. That trio could work.
1. Green Bay Packers
Benson’s previous head coach, Jonathan Gannon, now runs the Packers’ defense. The two know each other – – and Green Bay might need an extra tailback.
The Packers also have the easiest combination of opportunity and patience on this list. Josh Jacobs is still the starter, but his availability is uncertain as the NFL investigates his offseason affairs. Behind him, MarShawn Lloyd has shown flashes of potential but has a long, long injury history, and Chris Brooks appears to be the third-string running back.
The Packers are the most likely landing spot for Benson due to Gannon and the roster need.
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VikesNow Verdict: Benson’s knee complicates all of this, but his draft pedigree and flashes of explosiveness should generate a little bit of interest. Minnesota has a long-term opening, while Detroit and Green Bay offer especially intriguing coaching connections if Benson’s medicals check out.
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