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Bam Knight Has Earned the Cardinals' Lead Back Job Over Tyler Allgeier Against the Broncos
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- Bam Knight Has Earned the Cardinals' Lead Back Job Over Tyler Allgeier Against the Broncos
Mike LaFleur doesn't need to wait on Jeremiyah Love's left ankle to fix the Arizona Cardinals' running game. Bam Knight showed him the answer at SoFi Stadium, and he should be the first back on the field Sunday against Denver.
Knight ran 15 times for 80 yards in the 18-16 win over the Rams. Tyler Allgeier carried 18 times for 38. Allgeier still played more snaps, 40 to 32, and the Cardinals' team site described Knight's role as week-to-week, with a return to third on the depth chart once Love is healthy. That plan needs revisiting before Sunday, because the evidence from six games points in one direction.
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Tyler Allgeier's numbers aren't close
Oct 18, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier (22) is stopped by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) and nose tackle Poona Ford (97) in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
This isn't a one-game read. Allgeier has 157 yards on 53 carries this season, 3.0 per attempt, per Pro Football Reference . Knight has 112 yards on 18 carries, 6.2 per attempt. The sample is small, but it includes a 31-yard run in Los Angeles and an 18-yarder against Seattle, and Arizona's offense hasn't produced many of those.
PFF tells the same story. Allgeier's 62.2 rushing grade ranks 37th of 46 qualified backs, and he's averaging 2.66 yards after contact, 39th in that group, per his PFF page . His 68.4 receiving grade ranks 15th, so there is still a third-down role for him.
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Knight knows what's at stake. "I want to show not only this organization but the league I am capable of playing Sundays," he said after the win . Arizona's backfield was already thin, and Love's PFF grade was slipping before the ankle kept him out. The Cardinals need the hot hand right now.
Denver's run defense invites the change
Oct 15, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton (49) reacts after a missed field goal in the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The matchup makes the call easier. The Broncos have allowed 839 rushing yards, 31st in the NFL, at 4.7 yards per carry. Their strength is up front against the pass, where Zach Allen has 16 quarterback hits and the Broncos' 18 sacks are tied for third in the league.
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Running the ball well is the best way to slow Allen and Nik Bonitto before they get to Jacoby Brissett, who has been sacked 12 times. Second-and-long plays straight into Denver's hands, and Allgeier's 3.0 yards per carry keep producing it. Knight gives LaFleur a chance to stay on schedule and use play-action against a defense that wants to rush four and tee off on third down.
Arizona had no offensive touchdown in Los Angeles and leaned on six Chad Ryland field goals. A backfield problem doesn't get solved by giving the most carries to the least productive back . If Love is cleared, he leads this group, and nobody should argue with that for a rookie who has carried the Cardinals' draft class . Until then, Knight should get the first series and the majority of early-down carries, with Allgeier handling passing downs.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
