The Arizona Cardinals are shaking up their running back room after Sunday’s embarrassing 37-14 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With starter James Conner returning, rookie Emari Demercado emerging as a solid depth piece, and the signing of Michael Carter, the Cardinals have decided to part ways with their sixth-round draft pick in 2022. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Arizona has released running back Keaontay Ingram.
Arizona Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram: Struggled with Red Birds
Ingram played his final year of college football with the USC Trojans, rushing 156 times for 911 yards and five scores. The Arizona Cardinals selected the six-foot running back in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft, adding him to a backfield featuring James Conner, Eno Benjamin, and Darrel Williams. Ingram averaged just 2.2 yards per rush attempt as a rookie, taking 27 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Arizona opted not to return Benjamin and Williams in 2023, setting Ingram up as the second string behind starter James Conner. However, Ingram did little with his opportunity, rushing for 2.1 yards per attempt on 35 carries in eight games. With Conner on the mend in mid-October, the Cardinals gave him his first career start. The USC product rushed ten times for 40 yards while catching two passes for 11 yards.
Arizona Cardinals: Running Back Depth Chart
The release of Keaontay Ingram doesn’t affect James Conner’s position as the lead back in Arizona. However, it further solidifies Michael Carter and Emari Demercado as his backups. The Cardinals claimed Carter off waivers from the New York Jets earlier this season. He has 12 carries for 57 yards this season. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Carter scored seven rushing touchdowns during his first two NFL seasons. Meanwhile, Demercado, an undrafted rookie from TCU, has 52 rush attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown this season.
Leave a Reply