James Conner, the Arizona Cardinals' star running back, is gearing up for the final year of his contract in 2024, fresh off his best professional season yet. Despite missing four games due to a knee injury, Conner managed to rush for a career-high 1,040 yards in just 13 games.
Conner's 1,000-yard season was the first for any Cardinals running back since David Johnson hit the mark in 2016. But for Conner, that's just the beginning. "That was the floor," Conner declared during OTAs. "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward. I've definitely got a lot of work to put in, but that's the floor and not the ceiling."
At 29, Conner is respected around the league, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the NFL's most productive backs. His biggest challenge has been staying healthy, averaging 13 games a season since his career began, and he's yet to play a full season.
The Cardinals boasted a top-five rushing attack in 2023 and have bolstered their roster by adding running back Trey Benson in the third round, signing DeeJay Dallas, and bringing back Michael Carter and Emari Demercado.
If Conner can build on his stellar 2023 performance and have an even better 2024, Arizona's offense will be tough to beat. With a powerful run game and improved receiving options, the Cardinals could not only remain a top-five rushing team but potentially become one of the league's top offensive units.
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