Cards re-sign CJ2K with Johnson out months
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals turned to a familiar face to fill the void left by injured running back David Johnson.
Veteran Chris Johnson re-signed with the Cardinals on Tuesday, less than two weeks after the team released him Sept. 1.
Cardinals running back David Johnson will have wrist surgery and go to injured reserve with the hope he can return to the team in two to three months, a source told ESPN.
With David Johnson likely to miss a significant amount of time, the Cardinals must rely on aging quarterback Carson Palmer.
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Johnson, who spent the previous two years with the Cardinals, likely will assume the featured back role in David Johnson’s absence.
David Johnson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He is expected to miss two to three months after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated wrist, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Chris Johnson will likely get most of the carries against the Colts on Sunday in Indianapolis, followed by Kerwynn Williams, Andre Ellington, Elijhaa Penny and D.J. Foster. With each running back having a separate strength, Arizona’s rushing game will likely be by committee instead of relying on one player.
Johnson played in just four games last season before suffering a groin injury that required surgery and sent him to injured reserve. Before he was hurt, he had 25 carries for 95 yards as the primary backup. In 2015, he was the NFL’s third-leading rusher (814 yards) before he fractured his tibia in Week 12.
Before 2015, Johnson had never missed a game because of an injury.
He enters this season with 9,537 rushing yards. He told ESPN this offseason that his goal before he retires is to reach 10,000 yards.
Johnson, who will turn 32 on Sept. 23, re-signed with Arizona the day before training camp started, with the understanding that his role would expand compared to last season. Fumbling issues in training camp helped lead to Arizona releasing him before Week 1.
Johnson earned the nickname CJ2K after he rushed for 2,009 yards in 2009, when he played for the Tennessee Titans.
