Many Arizona Cardinals fans were excited when the team selected running back Eno Benjamin in the seventh round of the NFL draft. He, of course, played for Arizona State and put up big numbers.
He has not yet had the opportunity to play or even dress for a game. He has been inactive for all of the team’s eight games this season.
With Kenyan Drake out last week, some hoped he would get an opportunity.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury explained it to reporters on Wednesday. It doesn’t really have anything to do with his talent.
“I would say more than anything just being able to contribute on special teams,” he explained. “When you’re in that third back slot where he’s at this point, it’s hard to be up if you’re not participating in that phase. He’s a talented runner. I thought he had a really nice camp. We like his future here, and we’re still just kind of bringing him along at this point.”
D.J. Foster has been a core special teams player for multiple seasons. Rookie Jonathan Ward has contributed on special teams. Whether Benjamin simply isn’t being given the opportunity or isn’t as good at it as Foster or Ward, it sounds like the Cardinals are essentially stashing him for next year, when Kenyan Drake likely leaves in free agency, and he can be the No. 2 back behind Chase Edmonds.
In the meantime, if Benjamin is going to get any playing time this season, it will have to be by being able to be counted on in the special teams unit.
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