Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner has been sidelined for the season due to a knee injury. The Arizona Cardinals’ running back, a Pitt alum, initially sustained the injury in Week 16 but managed to play through it heading into Week 17. Unfortunately, the injury worsened, leading the Cardinals to make the decision to shut him down for the remainder of the year. Conner will finish with 16 games played out of 17 after signing a contract extension with Arizona.
Conner’s impressive season includes 1,094 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, along with 414 receiving yards. Despite facing injury challenges early in his career, Conner has proven his durability.
In November, Conner secured a two-year, $19 million extension with the Cardinals. He joined the team in 2021 after leaving the Steelers, who opted to draft Najee Harris in his place.
While injuries were a concern during his time in Pittsburgh, Conner has stayed relatively healthy in Arizona, earning a Pro Bowl nod and continuing to perform at a high level. He’s accumulated over 5,000 rushing yards and remains a key figure in the Cardinals’ backfield, with over 8,000 yards from scrimmage in his career.
Conner was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft from Pitt. He filled in for All-Pro Le’Veon Bell after Bell’s holdout and eventual departure to the New York Jets, stepping up as the top running back. Though his performance was solid, injuries continued to challenge Conner’s career.
