Trey Benson clears waivers, reverts to Cardinals injured reserve
The second-year running back went unclaimed a day after his waive/injured designation, and an injury settlement that would send him to free agency is expected, per reports.
The next step in the Trey Benson situation landed Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals' second-year running back cleared waivers unclaimed and reverted to Arizona's injured reserve, one day after the team waived him with an injury designation in a roster shuffle that also activated Josh Sweat from PUP.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Running back Trey Benson cleared waivers today and he now reverts back to the Arizona Cardinals injured reserve list.
What happens from here is the more consequential part. Benson is expected to finalize an injury settlement with the Cardinals, after which he would become a free agent — a path that would let him sign elsewhere once his knee is healthy rather than sitting out the season on Arizona's IR. Schefter confirmed the waiver clearance; MySportsUpdate first reported the settlement expectation.
It's an abrupt turn for a player the Cardinals spent a third-round pick on just last year and briefly penciled in as James Conner's eventual heir. An unclaimed waive/injured move doesn't erase that investment, but it does mean Benson's 2026 — wherever it happens — likely won't happen in Arizona.