Cardinals RB David Johnson on injured knee: ‘I’m definitely blessed with the result’

To say there was relief surrounding the Arizona Cardinals Monday is an understatement.

Head coach Bruce Arians provided “great news” when he revealed star running back David Johnson’s gruesome-looking left knee injury was only an MCL sprain and he will not need surgery.

Taking an outside rush to the left in the team’s season finale against the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson’s left leg was caught under a Rams player’s body as his own body twisted backward.

Johnson admitted that while the initial hit was painful and the worst case scenarios did go through his head at first, he wasn’t feeling pessimistic about the results on Monday.

“I actually wasn’t worried at all,” Johnson said Monday. “It felt strong, even in walking, I think I was just scared at first (with) the initial contract.”

He admitted he had a great amount of relief, especially after seeing the replay.

“After seeing that video, with everything that happened, I’m definitely blessed with the result,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s pursuit of certain records, such as becoming the first player to have 100 all-purpose yards in every game of one season, was cut short by the injury.

“It was a shame because you knew he was going to get his 100 (yards) easily, but you knew that injury was going to probably stop the streak and I’m just very, very happy that it’s not a serious one,” Arians said Monday.

“I’m sad, but so much more proud that I had the best case scenario happen,” Johnson said of the 16-game record.

The ever-humble Johnson said he could have reached 1,000 yards receiving had it not been for mental mistakes. Johnson finished with 1,239 rushing yards and 879 receiving yards.

“I’m always going to shoot for that,” Johnson said of reaching 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.

Johnson had 39 receiving yards in the first quarter before his injury, and when asked if he thought he could reach the 1,000-yard mark in just that game, he did not have any doubt.

“Yes,” Johnson said emphatically. “I definitely did.”

As far as possible expectations for the future, Arians did not keep the bar low.

“200-yard games every week,” Arians said to some laughs from the media. “I’m serious, he’s capable.”