Trey Benson "Gonna Play a Lot This Year"
James Conner considers Trey Benson a starter. "We're both RB1," said Conner. "He's gonna play a lot this year." Benson was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 games last season. However, he finished with only 291 yards and one touchdown off 63 touches. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has already indicated that Benson would be more involved during the 2025 campaign. Yet, Conner's latest comment adds more validity to Gannon's statement even more. It appears Benson could be more than an insurance policy this season, although his increased involvement won't be good for Conner's fantasy outlook. If anything, Conner could be the preferred pass-catching option out of the backfield, with Benson in line to handle the bulk of the carries.Source: Theo Mackie
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Wilson Lands in Concussion Protocol
Michael Wilson (head) was placed in concussion protocol. The 25-year-old collided with safety Budda Baker during practice on Friday, although both players got to their feet without assistance. Wilson finished last season by amassing 47 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns. While Wilson will need to compete for targets primarily with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride throughout the 2025 campaign, assuming they all stay healthy, there's a good chance he'll improve even more in his third season in the National Football League. Granted, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a consistently reliable fantasy producer, but he could at least draw flex consideration from fantasy managers in the right situation. With that in mind, Wilson should be considered day-to-day, with an update on his health expected in the coming days.Source: Bo Brack
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson, Budda Baker Collide in Practice
Michael Wilson (head) and safety Budda Baker (shin) collided with each other during Friday's practice. This resulted in both players exiting early during practice. Baker reportedly tried to talk his way into staying in, but ultimately headed to the sideline. Wilson exited the field with the training staff and figures to undergo further testing. It seems like both players have avoided major injuries, but fantasy managers should check back for another update.Source: Theo Mackie
According to Theo Mackie, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Misses Second Straight Practice
Marvin Harrison Jr. (knee) is missing his second consecutive practice on Friday due to knee soreness, according to Tyler Drake of AZ Sports. The second-year wide receiver's injury is not viewed as serious, but it's one to monitor to see how much time he ends up missing. Harrison Jr. added weight over the offseason after a relatively disappointing rookie year that saw him record 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games. Building chemistry with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is critical for Harrison Jr., as the two often appeared out of sync in 2024. The 22-year-old is being drafted as a WR2 in fantasy, which is significantly higher than where he finished last season.Source: AZ Sports - Tyler Drake
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Sitting Out of Thursday's Practice
Marvin Harrison Jr. (knee) is not practicing on Thursday due to knee soreness, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. The injury is not viewed as serious, and Harrison is day-to-day. While key players missing practice time is never ideal, this sounds like a non-issue for the Ohio State product's fantasy football outlook. Last season, expectations were sky high for the son of a Hall of Fame wide receiver, so his 62-catch, 885-yard, eight-touchdown season was viewed as a letdown by many. However, the 22-year-old has reportedly bulked up this offseason, and he'll have another year of chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray in 2025. Harrison Jr. carries a mid-range WR2 price tag into preseason drafts, but there is a real possibility he's locked behind tight end Trey McBride as the No. 2 option in the passing game.Source: Darren Urban
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trey Benson Receives Praise from Coaching Staff
Trey Benson is poised to take a step forward, according to the team's head coach Jonathan Gannon. Despite a quiet rookie season, the Cardinals are still high on their former third-round pick. Benson rushed for 291 yards on 63 carries while scoring one touchdown on the ground in 13 games last season. James Conner remains the lead back in Arizona and that isn't going to change this summer. Benson should enter the season as the primary backup and is hopefully going to get more involved. Despite that, Benson probably won't have weekly fantasy value unless Conner goes down at some point.Source: Bo Brack
Arizona Cardinals running back Marvin Harrison Jr. Up to 220 Pounds
Marvin Harrison Jr. is listed at 220 pounds at training camp this year on the team's latest roster after last being listed at 209 pounds. It was reportedly earlier this offseason that Harrison appeared to have bulked up, and now we know how much. The 22-year-old from Ohio State had some pretty high expectations placed on him in his first NFL season after being taken fourth overall by the Cardinals. He might not have lived up to most folks' expectations in Year 1, but he still provided 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts) in his rookie campaign. The Cardinals are expecting Harrison to be even better in Year 2, and adding muscle will certainly help him win more downfield. Fantasy managers should target him as a WR2 with upside if he takes the next step.Source: PHNX Sports - Bo Brack
PHNX Sports' Bo Brack reports that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Walter Nolen to Miss Time With Calf Injury
Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Walter Nolen (calf) is set to miss time after suffering a calf injury while training, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Nolen was the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's an unfortunate development for the rookie, who is slated to miss out on the first opportunity to prove himself in training camp. Nolen began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss for his final season in 2024. In 35 career games, he tallied 114 tackles (62 solo), 11.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He is expected to be a Day 1 starter and disruptor on the Arizona defensive line, but Calais Campbell, PJ Mustipher, Bilal Nichols, Elijah Simmons, and Jordan Burch could see more action with the first- and second-team defenses during his absence.Darius Robinson Ready to Make his Mark in 2025?
Source: The Athletic - Doug Haller
The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darius Robinson is healthy and positioned to make his mark in his second NFL season in 2025. The Cardinals took Robinson 27th overall in 2024 out of Missouri, but he injured his calf in training camp and spent the rest of his rookie campaign trying to play catch-up. As a result, the 23-year-old interior defensive lineman failed to make much of an impact, recording just 10 tackles (four solo) and one sack in six games played in the desert. With Robinson healthy going into this year, though, the Cardinals' defensive line could be much improved after the drafted pass-rusher Walter Nolen in the first round in April and also signed veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Robinson will surely play a much bigger part for Arizona's D-line in 2025.Jalen Thompson Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Source: The Athletic - Doug Haller
Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson, who turns 27 in July, is approaching the final year of his contract in 2025 -- he has a void year in 2026. Thompson has been a key defensive piece of Arizona's defensive backfield during his six years with the team, but The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that time is running out for him to get an extension. He finished third on the team in tackles in 2024 and has been productive and reliable in the desert, but Haller writes that the Cardinals seem to be grooming Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, a fourth-rounder last year, as Thompson's eventual replacement. Thompson had 100-plus combined tackles in 2021 and 2022 and almost returned to that mark a year ago with 98 tackles (61 solo). He could have some fantasy appeal in IDP leagues if he can stay healthy in what could be his last season with the Cardinals.Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
Arizona Cardinals rookie fourth-round inside linebacker Cody Simon has caught the attention of head coach Jonathan Gannon in a short amount of time this offseason, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "He's definitely flashed here," Gannon said. "We got him playing a couple different spots, so that's good. He is playing on fourth down right now, so he is learning all that. He's eager to learn. He doesn't make mistakes twice and he's got juice. He's physical, just like all those guys. Long way to go. But I like where he is at." The 23-year-old has also taken on the responsibility of wearing the green dot, which has added to the steep learning curve heading into his first year in the NFL. The Ohio State product was plenty productive on college for the Buckeyes, but even though he's flashed during the offseason program, he might have to wait for a full-time role in Arizona.Marvin Harrison Jr. Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Marvin Harrison Jr. to take the next step in 2025. Aside from the muscle that the Ohio State product added to his frame, quarterback Kyler Murray noted that he's operating with a different level of comfort and confidence thus far in his second year. Objectively, Harrison Jr.'s rookie campaign was by no means a failure. However, with the sky-high expectations put forth upon him, it certainly felt that way. More so, considering fellow rookie wideout Malik Nabers exploded onto the scene in a worse offense. The 22-year-old figured to improve in his second season anyway. Arizona gassing him up only makes him more intriguing in the first few rounds of drafts.Source: Doug Haller
The Athletic's Doug Haller reports that the Arizona Cardinals expect second-year wideout Walter Nolen III Fitting in Well Early On
Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round defensive tackle Walker Nolen III has impressed coaches and teammates right away during OTAs and minicamp and looks the part while fitting into a veteran defensive line room from not only a physical perspective, but also while standing out on the field at practice, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "He has unbelievable lateral quickness. Very few players can go kind of backdoor and to come down the line and make a [tackle for loss]," veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "He's one of those guys that has that unique ability where he has quickness. His quickness is different level, and he has good instincts." The 21-year-old 6-foot-4, 296-pounder had 14 tackles for loss and a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2024 at Ole Miss. Nolen won't be on the IDP fantasy radar in 2025, but he could be a key pass-rusher on the interior in Arizona before long.Kyler Murray Looking to be Better 'Off-Script' This Season
Kyler Murray noted in an interview with ESPN that he wants the team to improve this season in situations when the original play call breaks down. "It's just we have to be better on off-scheduled plays because, obviously, I have that ability to make extend plays, and we have the guys to go do it off schedule," said the former Oklahoma Sooner. "So, I believe that's an area we got to be better at." Arizona is looking for Murray to make a jump this season, and they're hoping he can get back to some of the improvisational tendencies he displayed when he bolstered WR DeAndre Hopkins as one of his weapons. The 27-year-old has been put in a situation to succeed, though it hinges on his own development. He's one of the more intriguing mid-round QBs due to his rushing upside.Source: Kevin Patra
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Will Johnson Returns to Practice
Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
Arizona Cardinals rookie second-round cornerback Will Johnson (hamstring) returned to the final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday after sitting out the previous ay with a tight hamstring, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Tuesday that the team would be "smart" with Johnson and a number of other injured players this spring. In his return to practice on Thursday, Johnson looked to be moving effortlessly while backpedaling, cutting and running. The 22-year-old defensive back missed the last six games in college for Michigan in 2024 with a foot injury and also dealt with a knee injury, but he should be fully ready for training camp this summer. The former Wolverine has injury concerns, but if he can stay healthy, he should be a starter right away in his first year in the NFL in 2025.