An MRI has reportedly confirmed that Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 9’s win over the San Francisco 49ers and will likely be placed on the injured reserve, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport adds that the running back should miss three to four games with the injury.
Edmonds, who has 641 all-purpose yards this year, injured himself on the first play of Arizona’s 31-17 victory on Sunday.
Arizona survived just fine without Edmonds, who has a slight majority of snaps over veteran James Conner so far this year. Conner rushed 21 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns while adding five catches and another touchdown through the air against San Francisco.
Through nine games, Conner has 454 rushing yards and 111 receiving yards with 11 total touchdowns. He’s mostly played the role as a goal line and short-yardage back to complement Edmonds.
Without Edmonds Sunday, second-year pro Eno Benjamin picked up a significant role as an early down back as the Cardinals built an early lead. He took nine carries for 39 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
If Edmonds is indeed out for a significant amount of time, Arizona could also lean more on fellow second-year man Jonathan Ward, who along with Benjamin had been waiting in the wings the past two years.
Ward has five carries for 21 yards this year but was not available against the 49ers due to a concussion suffered on return coverage duties a week prior against the Green Bay Packers.