In a season already plagued by misfortune, the Arizona Cardinals suffered yet another crushing setback on Tuesday when they placed running back Bam Knight on injured reserve, officially ending his 2025 campaign with just three games remaining. The 24-year-old, who had emerged as the team’s leading rusher amid a wave of injuries, sustained a severe ankle sprain during Sunday’s lopsided 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans – an injury so painful that he was carted off the field after just one carry.

Knight’s nightmare began on the Cardinals’ very first offensive play from scrimmage. Tackled for a two-yard loss, his left ankle twisted awkwardly beneath a defender, leaving him unable to bear weight. Visibly in agony, he was quickly tended to on the sideline before being transported to the locker room. Initial reports described it as a “bad sprain” with no fractures, but the severity proved too great for him to continue in a meaningless stretch of games for the 3-11 Cardinals.

This marks the third season-ending injury to Arizona’s running back room this year, turning what started as a promising depth chart into a depleted unit. Veteran James Conner was lost early with a foot injury, followed by rookie Trey Benson’s knee issue in Week 4. Knight, nicknamed “Bam” since childhood, stepped up admirably in their absence. Undrafted out of NC State and signing with the Cardinals as a reserve/future contract in January, he earned a roster spot in training camp and eventually started eight of his 12 games played.

Despite struggling with inconsistent run blocking and averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, Knight led the team with 82 rushes for 269 yards and four touchdowns. He also contributed 22 receptions for 160 yards and one receiving score, proving versatile in a pass-heavy offense. His emergence was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal year for Arizona, which has been eliminated from playoff contention and is enduring a six-game losing streak.

With Knight sidelined, the Cardinals will lean on Michael Carter and Emari Demercado for the final games. Carter stepped in effectively against the Texans, rushing 14 times for 56 yards while adding four catches for 48 yards. Demercado, returning from his own ankle woes, provides depth but has been limited.

The injury epidemic extends beyond the backfield. Wide receiver Andre Baccellia also landed on IR with a neck injury from a scary kickoff return collision in the same game. Arizona’s offense has been hampered all season by poor protection, inconsistent play, and now this relentless string of absences.

For Knight, a restricted free agent heading into 2026, the abrupt ending is particularly heartbreaking. He fought his way onto the roster and into a prominent role, only for fate to intervene on a routine play. As the Cardinals limp to the finish line, fans are left wondering if this cursed running back position will ever find stability.