ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports James Conner “did in fact suffer a season-ending injury to his right ankle” in the Cardinals’ Week 3 loss to the 49ers.

Things were already trending in this direction given the gruesome nature of the injury. The Cardinals still don’t know the full extent of Conner’s injury, which will require surgery, but the veteran running back is likely looking at a long road to recovery. Conner signed a two-year contract extension last offseason and is officially under contract through 2026. However, he also carries a low dead cap hit of just $2.250 million and given his age (31), and the latest injury, it’s fair to wonder if the his time with the Cardinals could be coming to an end. Conner’s season ends with a rushing line of 32-95-1. Second-year running back Trey Benson is expected to takeover the lead role in Conner’s absence and profiles as a strong RB2 going forward.