Cardinals RB James Conner Likely to Be Cut

Veteran running back's age, injury history, and declining production make him an expendable piece for Arizona's new coaching staff.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Arizona Cardinals are expected to release veteran running back James Conner this offseason, according to NFL.com's Matt Okada. Conner missed most of the 2025 season with an ankle injury and struggled with his production even before the injury, averaging just 3 yards per carry. With the Cardinals facing a rebuild under new head coach Mike LaFleur, the team is likely to move on from the 31-year-old Conner and his $7.5 million salary in order to address other roster needs.

Why it matters

Conner has been an important player for the Cardinals both on the field and in the locker room, but his age, injury history, and declining effectiveness make him an expendable piece as the team looks to reshape its roster under a new coaching staff. The move will free up significant salary cap space for the Cardinals to address other areas of need.

The details

Conner missed the vast majority of the 2025 season with an ankle injury, and even before the injury, he was averaging just 3 yards per carry and had the lowest explosive run rate of his career at 3.1%. With the Cardinals likely to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray as well, the team is looking to start fresh across the backfield under new head coach Mike LaFleur.

  • Conner is set to turn 31 years old in May 2026.

The players

James Conner

A veteran running back who has played for the Arizona Cardinals since 2021.

Mike LaFleur

The new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, hired in 2026.

Kyler Murray

The current quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, who is expected to be moved on from by the team.

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What they’re saying

“Between age, injury and effectiveness before injury, this player has probably played his last down for the Cardinals.”

— Matt Okada, NFL.com writer (usatoday.com)

What’s next

The Cardinals will need to find a replacement running back in the offseason, either through the draft, free agency, or promoting from within their current roster.

The takeaway

The release of James Conner is part of a larger roster overhaul for the Arizona Cardinals as they look to rebuild under a new coaching staff. While Conner has been a valuable player, his age, injury history, and declining production make him an expendable piece as the team focuses on addressing other areas of need.