- Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner will conclude his 2024 season on Injured Reserve after the Arizona Cardinals sidelined him due to a knee injury.
Conner sustained the injury in Week 16 but managed to play through Week 17. However, with the Cardinals already out of playoff contention, the team opted to shut him down and shift their focus to the 2025 season, placing the 29-year-old on IR for the final game.
The former Steelers standout and Pitt alumnus had a career-best season, rushing for 1,097 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 414 receiving yards and one touchdown. His impressive performance earned him a three-year contract extension during the season, solidifying his role as Arizona’s starting running back for the long term.
Selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Conner became their starter in his second year when Le’Veon Bell held out. During his four seasons in Pittsburgh, he amassed 2,302 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Since joining the Cardinals four years ago, Conner has thrived, seizing the starting role and proving he could be a team’s lead running back. Despite initial doubts about his ability to remain a bell-cow back after leaving Pittsburgh, he has emerged as one of the league’s most dependable runners.
