Packers remain landing spot for Cardinals’ stashed 4th-rounder, informative update.

The Green Bay Packers could still end up adding Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson before the start of the season, despite Benson initially clearing waivers and landing on the Cardinals’ injured reserve list. Benson, a 2024 third-round pick, has joined a backfield that already features significant activity this offseason, including additions and drafting moves that crowded Arizona’s depth at the position.

With Benson on IR and no return designation, Arizona faces two paths: keep him on injured reserve for the season, absorbing his contract without roster movement, or reach an injury settlement that would allow him to become a free agent. The latter would open the door for other teams, including Green Bay, to sign him once he’s healthy and cleared medically.

Green Bay’s backfield presents a clearer opening. The Packers’ uncertainty behind star running back Josh Jacobs creates a space where Benson’s high upside could be attractive without requiring the team to use a waiver claim or expend draft capital. If Benson becomes a free agent after an injury settlement and subsequent waivers, Green Bay could pursue him for a potential visit, evaluate his medical status firsthand, and consider a signing—potentially to the practice squad—during or after the regular season.

This approach aligns with the Packers’ history of reclamation plays: acquiring former Day 2 talents from other teams when they’re available and assessing them in a low-risk context. Importantly, Green Bay would avoid tying up a roster slot or risking a high price on a player with an uncertain injury timeline. A conditional path exists where Benson proves healthy and valuable enough to warrant a deeper look or a bonus contribution later in the season.

Benson’s profile remains enticing: he was a top-70 pick in 2024, known for exceptional speed and balance, with a recorded 4.39-second dash and strong contact skills. If he becomes fully healthy and cleared to play, he could offer the Packers a low-risk, high-talent option to complement or back up Jacobs, depending on how the backfield reshapes through camp and the season.

In summary, while Benson remains with the Cardinals for now under the IR umbrella, the window for Green Bay to bring him in legitimately exists via an injury settlement pathway. This route would allow the Packers to conduct due diligence on his medical status and potentially sign him without sacrificing value or resources, keeping them in the mix for a high-upside back to bolster the backfield depth behind Jacobs.