who is starting rb for cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals’ starting running back situation has been in flux due to injuries and weekly game-plan changes, so there is no single locked‑in “rest‑of‑time” starter right now. The most recent clear announcement before the end of the 2025 season had head coach Jonathan Gannon naming Michael Carter as the starter for that specific Week 16 game after other backs went down, but depth‑chart roles can change quickly week to week.

Current RB picture

• Late in the 2025 season, Jonathan Gannon said Michael Carter would start at running back following Bam Knight’s injury, with other backs rotating in behind him.

• Earlier in the year, injuries had already pushed Emari Demercado into a “new starter” role when multiple Cardinals backs were unavailable.

• Veteran James Conner is still on the roster but has shown age‑related decline, and there has been public speculation that his contract could lead to a move or reduced role heading into the 2026 offseason.

Why there isn’t a simple answer

• Beat reports and fantasy‑football discussions through the 2025 season repeatedly described the Cardinals’ running back situation as unsettled, with fans noting that “no one knows” who would consistently start.

• Depth, injuries, and possible offseason cuts mean that what was true for a specific 2025 game (like Carter starting in Week 16) is not guaranteed to hold for early 2026, especially before training camp and new signings clarify the depth chart.

Practical takeaway

• If the question is about a specific game , the answer can change week to week; for the last clearly reported instance late in 2025, it was Michael Carter for that matchup.

• If the question is about “right now” in January 2026 , the Cardinals effectively have an open competition at running back, with roles for Conner (if retained), Carter, Demercado, and others to be settled in the offseason.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.