In a significant boost to their offensive lineup, the Arizona Cardinals will have running back James Conner active for their divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

The veteran back has been dealing with a knee injury that sidelined him for the past few weeks, but his return comes at a crucial time for the Cardinals, who are looking to gain momentum late in the season.

Conner’s availability adds a new dimension to Arizona’s ground game, which has struggled in his absence. The Cardinals’ rushing attack has averaged just 84.7 yards per game without Conner, who remains the team’s leading rusher despite missing time. His physical running style and ability to gain tough yards between the tackles should help alleviate pressure on quarterback Kyler Murray, who has shouldered much of the offensive burden recently.

“James has worked hard to get back on the field, and we’re excited to have him,” said Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. “He’s a leader for us on and off the field, and his presence is going to be big for our offense.”

On the other side of the ball, the Los Angeles Rams received less encouraging news as rookie running back Trey Benson has been ruled out for the game. Benson, who has been a revelation for the Rams this season, is nursing a hamstring injury sustained in practice earlier this week. His absence leaves a significant void in the Rams’ offense, as he’s been instrumental in their backfield rotation, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and adding a dynamic receiving threat out of the backfield.

The Rams will likely turn to Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers to carry the load in Benson’s absence. However, replacing Benson’s explosiveness and versatility will be no easy task, especially against a Cardinals defense that has shown improvement in recent weeks.

Sunday’s matchup has critical implications for both teams as they battle to stay relevant in the NFC West standings. The Cardinals, sitting at 4-9, are in desperate need of a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, while the Rams (6-7) are aiming to stay in the hunt for a Wild Card berth.

The return of James Conner gives the Cardinals a much-needed spark, but they’ll need a complete team effort to overcome a Rams squad hungry to capitalize on their home-field advantage. With both teams dealing with key absences, the game could come down to which side better adapts to their challenges and executes in critical moments. Kickoff is set for 4:05 PM ET at SoFi Stadium.