Intriguing running back option emerges for the Packers, but there’s an obvious catch
Cardinals cut former third-round pick Trey Benson, but he was waived with an injury designation.
The Green Bay Packers could have a new running back option on their radar after the Arizona Cardinals waived Trey Benson on Monday. The former third-round pick is a talented player who never received consistent opportunities in Arizona, and his availability creates a worth-monitoring situation for a Packers roster still sorting out its backfield depth behind Josh Jacobs.
There is a catch, though. Benson was waived with an injury designation, and that changes the calculus considerably.
How the waiver process works here
Because Benson was waived/injured, the process is different from a standard cut. If a team claims him, he goes to that new team. If he passes waivers unclaimed, he reverts to the Cardinals’ injured reserve. In most cases like this, the player and the original team reach an injury settlement, and the player then becomes a true free agent.
That second scenario is the most likely outcome. And if it plays out that way, the Packers could more realistically explore adding Benson to the roster once he hits the open market.
The key question for Green Bay, or any team considering a waiver claim, is understanding the nature of the injury. The Packers would need to talk to Benson’s agents, get clarity on the timeline, and determine whether they can afford to carry a player on the 90-man roster during the final week of the preseason who might not be fully available.
If the Packers did claim Benson, they would absorb $1.3 million in cash for 2026 and $1.6 million in 2027. That is two cheap years for a player with legitimate talent who never got a consistent shot in Arizona.
Green Bay could claim Benson, keep him on the 90-man roster through the final week of the preseason, and then place him on injured reserve on cutdown day. The Packers would have a few designation-to-return spots available, exploiting a recent NFL rule adjustment that allows teams to bring players back from injured reserve without the necessity to keep them on the initial 53-man roster.
Current backfield picture
Right now, the Packers’ running back room features Josh Jacobs as the clear starter, with MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Pierre Strong behind him. The group also has some lower-level pieces with Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon. Adding Benson would inject another layer of competition and provide depth at the position.
Benson’s situation is worth watching closely. In two seasons, he’s averaged 3.41 yards after contact per attempt, with an elusive rating of 119.5 in 2025 according to PFF. The young back is a talented runner who was productive when given opportunities but never carved out a consistent role with the Cardinals. Whether the Packers pursue a waiver claim or wait for him to reach free agency through an injury settlement, Benson represents a low-cost option who could contribute down the road.
Under general manager Brian Gutekunst, the Packers have shown a willingness to explore creative roster-building avenues, and this is exactly the type of situation where the front office tends to do its homework.
