Report: Chris Johnson, Cardinals talked contract extension
Nov 1, 2015, 10:58 AM
Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
It’s only halfway through the NFL season but it seems the Arizona Cardinals have seen enough of running back Chris Johnson to explore the possibility of extending his contract.
This week, the Cardinals and Johnson discussed the possibility of extending the veteran’s deal, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While Schefter adds that no deal is imminent, the news comes a few weeks after Arizona general manager Steve Keim told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the Cardinals would “look at” extending Johnson.
Keim alluded to the possibility on Oct. 13.
“That’s something that we always monitor, day-to-day, (director of football administration) Mike Disner and I spend a lot of time on the contract analysis and spending time talking to the agents, so that’s something that we’ll look at,” Keim told Doug and Wolf. “But he has done an unbelievable job for us.”
Johnson’s 18-carry, 122-yard performance in the Cardinals’ win against the Baltimore Ravens last Monday may have convinced the team Johnson is only getting better as he acclimates himself to head coach Bruce Arians’ offense.
Despite injuring himself in training camp, Johnson quickly earned a key role in the offense once expected starter Andre Ellington went down with an injury.
Heading into Arizona’s Week 8 game at Cleveland, Johnson is second in the NFL with 567 rushing yards on the year, trailing only Atlanta stand-out Devonta Freeman. He has averaged 5.1 yards per carry and is tied for third in the league with six carries for 20 or more yards.
The 30-year-old Johnson signed a one-year, $870,000 deal with the Cardinals this offseason as a free agent. The contract could pay up to $2 million if he rushes for 1,300 yards and makes the Pro Bowl.
