Tyler Allgeier absolutely saved the Arizona Cardinals' running game, and really the game in general, in their Week 8 comeback over the Dallas Cowboys.
Allgeier was relatively underwhelming through the first seven weeks with the Cardinals, but it was perfect timing to have that breakout performance. He finished with an incredibly efficient 147 rushing yards and one touchdown on just 11 carries. Allgeier was also this team's third-leading receiver behind only Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, catching all five targets for 44 yards and another touchdown.
Is Tyler Allgeier finally turning a corner in Arizona?
The Cardinals never would've been able to complete this comeback and keep their AT&T Stadium winning streak alive had it not been for Allgeier, who finally looked closer to the running back he was previously with the Atlanta Falcons.
Now through eight games with the Cardinals, he's only totaled 323 rushing yards, with this outlier Week 8 performance skewing that data when it comes to his week-to-week production. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come, but it's fair to question whether Allgeier is actually turning a corner in Arizona. After all, it's the Cowboys' defense we're talking about here.
The reality is, Allgeier hasn't really been a huge factor in Mike LaFleur's offense before Sunday. Even with the injuries to rookie Jeremiyah Love, it's surprisingly been Bam Knight emerging in that RB1 role more often than not.
Was Week 8 the exception that the Cardinals needed at the perfect time? It's important to consider he still only had 11 carries, and that limited volume won't go far against a stout Seattle Seahawks defense next week -- not when the Cardinals have an offensive line this unreliable.
Injury-riddled Cardinals could really use James Conner
It remains to be seen who will be joining Allgeier in the running back room for that contest as the Cardinals continue dealing with injuries. Love was questionable to return but was ultimately ruled out to begin the second half against Dallas with a right ankle injury, the same one he hurt during preseason.
Meanwhile, Knight exited the contest in the first half with a concussion.
Arizona's running back room turned from a weakness to a strength this offseason, bringing in Love and Allgeier. Their steep draft investment has dealt with one injury after another, failing to find any rhythm in this offense. Hopefully, Allgeier's Week 8 performance is a sign of things to come, but then again, we'll see how he tests against a higher level of competition this week.
But LaFleur has made it clear up until this point that he doesn't prefer to use Allgeier in that bellcow role. And with Love and Knight's statuses for this game both up in the air, could now be the time to unleash veteran James Conner?
We previously pitched Conner as a potential trade candidate if he was healthy enough and taken off injured reserve before the Nov. 10 deadline. But now, the Cardinals join that list of teams that could use Conner's services, as they've been hit with the injury bug themselves. Could it even be an audition for the Cardinals to use Conner Nov. 8 against Seattle, only to shop him shortly after?
These are all hypotheticals until the Cardinals announce Conner's status or provide an update on his injury. But with the injuries piling up in the running back room and the trade deadline approaching, one thing is clear: Arizona could use Conner now more than ever.
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