James Conner carted off with ankle injury during Cardinals-49ers NFL game

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was carted off the field with an ankle injury during the third quarter of Sunday’s 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 30-year-old veteran went down awkwardly when his right leg was bent underneath him while being tackled near the line of scrimmage on a rushing attempt.

Conner was in visible pain as teammates gathered around before medical staff helped him onto the cart. Just minutes later, the Cardinals announced he would not return, officially ruling him out for the rest of the game. Conner’s day ended with nine carries for 22 yards, along with three receptions totaling 15 yards.



The injury was a major setback for Arizona, which has leaned heavily on Conner’s production since he joined the franchise in 2021 following four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had originally drafted him in the third round in 2017. Over the past two years, Conner has been a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ offense, delivering back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns for the first time in his career.


Between 2023 and 2024, he piled up 2,134 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the league’s most dependable backs. Entering Sunday’s contest, Conner ranked 11th among active players with 6,043 career rushing yards.