Player News

• Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Ends campaign on IR

  02/18/2025 • By RotoWire

  Demercado (back) took 24 carries for 223 yards and one touchdown, hauled in 16 of 20 targets for 104 yards and no TDs and returned three kickoffs for 64 yards during 13 regular-season games in 2024. Prior to landing on injured reserve due to a back issue after Week 14, Demercado operated in a regular, albeit small, role out of the Cardinals backfield, seeing touches in all but one of his appearances. He averaged a robust 9.3 YPC on the campaign, and even if one removes his two runs of 40-plus yards, he boasted 5.9 YPC on his other 22 rushes -- a shade above the 4.9 he logged as an undrafted rookie in 2023. With both James Conner (knee) and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) under contract next season, Demercado will remain a depth RB for Arizona in 2025.

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• Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Moves to IR

  12/14/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Cardinals placed Demercado (back) on injured reserve Saturday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports. Demercado has been dealing with a back injury since late November, though he had been able to play through the issue until this week. He was ruled out Friday for Sunday's matchup against New England, and one day later the 25-year-old running back has landed on IR. Demercado isn't eligible to return during the regular season, so Arizona would need to get hot and make the playoffs in order for him to have a chance of suiting up again during the current campaign.

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• Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Still not practicing

  12/12/2024 • By RotoWire

  Demercado (back) didn't practice Thursday, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports. Demercado has yet to take part in drills this week due to a lingering back injury that limited him during the entirety of Week 13 prep. His lack of activity this time around may be maintenance related, but his status is one to monitor to see if he could be in danger of missing Sunday's game versus the Patriots. If Demercado is inhibited or sidelined this weekend, rookie Trey Benson would be the Cardinals' unquestioned No. 2 RB behind starter James Conner.

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• Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Suiting up Sunday

  12/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Demercado (back) is listed as active Sunday at Minnesota, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Arizona capped Demercado's practice reps during the entirety of Week 13 prep due to a back injury, but the issue won't stop him from being available to the team's backfield Sunday. Nevertheless, with 32 touches in 11 appearances this season, he doesn't hold much sway with James Conner leading the Cardinals' rushing attack and rookie third-rounder Trey Benson taking 58 touches himself in 10 outings to date.

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• Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Tending to back injury

  11/27/2024 • By RotoWire

  Demercado was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a back injury, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Demercado dealt with a shoulder issue last week, but it didn't stop him from suiting up in this past Sunday's loss at Seattle. While he matched fellow reserve back Trey Benson's nine offensive snaps, Demercado recorded a single carry versus the rookie's four. Per usual, James Conner led the way with 40 snaps and 12 touches for 49 yards from scrimmage. Assuming Demercado puts this new health concern behind him, he likely won't be afforded enough looks to produce any meaningful production in Sunday's game in Minnesota.

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