"Can James Conner Help Turn the Arizona Cardinals' Fortunes Around?"

James Conner achieved his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023 during his seventh year in the NFL. To secure his place in Arizona and demonstrate his value beyond his current contract, he must replicate and even surpass this feat. Conner expressed his desire to continue his career with the team, but remains focused on giving his all in the upcoming season. As he approaches 29, Conner is aware of the challenges faced by running backs in maintaining their performance levels. However, his strong finish to the previous season, marked by impressive statistics and standout performances, bodes well for his future in the league.

"It would be awesome to finish my career here, but nothing changes," Conner said this week If anything, it's time to turn it up even more going into the last year of my deal. I'm thankful I got to see the last year of it, so I'll go into it with everything I got. We'll see what happens next year, hopefully stay, but I understand it's a business."

Conner joined the Cardinals before the 2021 season after spending four years with the Steelers. In his first year with Arizona, he had an impressive performance, earning his second Pro Bowl selection with 752 rushing yards, 375 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. This helped the team secure 11 wins and break a six-year playoff drought. However, the Cardinals have struggled in the past two seasons, winning only four games each. 

"I want to turn things around out here," he said. "We have a great football team, we're coached really well, so we want that to reflect on our record and our play. I want to speak up."

Conner is determined to make a difference and contribute to the team's success by speaking up and working towards improving their record. While the Cardinals may not be considered favorites for a dramatic turnaround, the offense shows promise with players like Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Trey McBride. Conner's presence in the backfield, along with rookie Trey Benson, is expected to strengthen the team. If everything falls into place, there could be potential for a surprising run in 2024, leading to speculation about Conner's future with the team in the following season.