Cardinals RB James Conner carted off vs. 49ers early with ankle injury after awkward tackle
The Arizona Cardinals lost running back James Conner early on Sunday afternoon.
Conner took a handoff early in the second half of their matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, and was hit in the backfield hard by Marques Sigle. While Sigle brought him down, he drilled Conner directly in his legs. Conner's right ankle bent back awkwardly as he went down, and he reached for it immediately after the play was blown dead.
Cardinals RB James Conner is being carted off the field after suffering an injury on this play.
- NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 21, 2025
pic.twitter.com/zNBJ85XVJZ
He remained down for quite some time. He was eventually carted off the field, though the entire Cardinals sideline ran out to send him off before he left for the locker room. Several 49ers players did so, too.
Prayers up for James Conner pic.twitter.com/KAdzPExqZ5
- FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 21, 2025
The Cardinals then quickly ruled him out with an ankle injury. Further specifics are not yet known.
Conner, now in his fifth season with the Cardinals, entered Sunday's game with 73 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries so far this fall. He had 22 yards on nine carries when he went down on Sunday afternoon, and another 15 yards on three catches.
The Cardinals entered halftime at Levi's Stadium down 6-3. They capped that drive, their first in the second half, with a 28-yard field goal from Chad Ryland to tie the game back up.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.