what happened to james conner

James Conner, the Arizona Cardinals running back, suffered a severe right ankle injury during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on September 21, 2025, leading to him being carted off the field. This injury is serious enough that he will undergo ankle surgery and is expected to be out indefinitely for the rest of the 2025 season. The injury happened early in the third quarter after a tackle caused his ankle to twist awkwardly. At the time of the injury, Conner had 22 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards in the game. This ankle injury is a major setback for Conner, who has had a history of injuries but made significant comebacks, including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Cardinals. His injury leaves the Cardinals without their starting running back, with Trey Benson expected to take a larger role in the offense moving forward. Conner's contract for 2025 includes a guaranteed base salary for injury, but this could critically impact his playing time and role for the rest of the 2025 season and potentially beyond.