MINNEAPOLIS — The chilly will not hassle Arizona Cardinals operating again James Conner this weekend.
Hours earlier than he and the Cardinals boarded a aircraft to Minnesota for Sunday’s sport towards the Vikings, Conner signed a two-year extension that can preserve him in Arizona via the 2026 season, the group introduced.
A supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter the deal is value $19 million.
Conner, whose base wage was $4.235 million in 2024, was set to be a free agent after the season. His $9.5 million common annual wage will make him the seventh-highest-paid operating again by annual worth.
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Already at 705 speeding yards, the 29-year-old Conner is on tempo for his second straight 1,000-yard season, which might be the one two of his eight-year profession. He has 4 100-yard video games this season and 5 speeding touchdowns.
Conner has been a key a part of Arizona’s offense since he arrived in 2021, however he has taken one other step below offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
“I’ve full belief in James,” coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned earlier this season. “I do know Drew does, the offensive employees does and the offense does. He is an asset that we’ve that not lots of people have.
“He does so much for us not simply on the enjoying facet [but] the psychological, the management facet and the lead-by-example facet. This man’s in there earlier than anybody’s in there engaged on his legs at present. That is who he’s as an individual at his core. He simply retains the principle factor the principle factor, and he goes about his enterprise, and he works, man. It is comforting.”
The Cardinals are 5-1 in video games when Conner has hit 100 yards from scrimmage this season however 1-4 when he hasn’t.
Conner has supplemented his 705 speeding yards with 288 receiving yards. If he hits 1,000 yards from scrimmage, he would be the first participant in Cardinals historical past to hit that mark in every of his first 4 seasons with the group.
Since Conner signed with Arizona in 2021, solely 5 gamers have scored extra touchdowns than Conner’s 40 over that span.
Gannon mentioned within the offseason that if there was one participant his oldest baby ought to observe and watch, Conner can be among the many finest choices. Gannon has lauded Conner’s work ethic on and off the sphere, stating a number of occasions how properly he takes care of his physique all through the season.
And Conner’s influence goes past the teaching employees.
“You possibly can’t put a price ticket on what JC means,” quarterback Kyler Murray mentioned. “Now, I might go on and on about him, however nice dude, nice teammate, nice chief, nice participant.
“I do not assume he will get the credit score that he deserves, however the guys in that room, they perceive what he’s.”
