Cardinals place David Johnson on IR, sign Chris Johnson, D.J. Foster
Sep 12, 2017, 1:53 PM | Updated: Sep 13, 2017, 11:36 am
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
The Arizona Cardinals made roster moves Tuesday, adding more depth at running back after the wrist injury to David Johnson in the team’s opening game of the season.
Johnson was placed on injured reserve while veteran running back Chris Johnson was re-signed and former Arizona State running back D.J. Foster was signed from the New England Patriots’ practice squad. The team also released tackle Ulrick John.
While David Johnson is eligible to come off the IR on Nov. 7, head coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday on Sirius XM NFL’s Late Hits show that he was only hopeful the back could return by late November or December.
“Hopefully, as miraculous as he came back from that knee injury last year, I’m hoping we can possibly get him back by Thanksgiving or Christmas,” Arians told Jeff Rickard and Bill Polian.
David Johnson was injured in the third quarter of Arizona’s season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions Sunday. He left the game briefly after taking a hard hit from Glover Quin on a 24-yard catch. Johnson returned on the Cardinals’ next series, but fumbled on the play and left for good after that.
It was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he is expected to miss 2-3 months. Schefter reports that Johnson will have surgery on his wrist.
Chris Johnson comes back to the team after originally not making the 53-man roster. Johnson rushed for 814 yards and three touchdowns in his first year with the team in 2015. In 2016, Johnson only played in four games before being placed on injured reserve because of a groin injury.
Other running backs in the mix include Kerwynn Williams, Andre Ellington and Elijhaa Penny. Williams had five carries for 10 yards and one catch for two yards in the loss to the Lions.
“Andre Ellington was the guy that we drafted David Johnson to play behind and then he got hurt, Chris Johnson (who the Cardinals re-signed) got hurt and there’s David Johnson,” Arians told Late Hits. “This has happened to us a couple of times, so it’s a great opportunity for Kerwynn Williams and Andre, and we’ll get Chris Johnson back up to speed.”
Foster carried the ball seven times for 24 yards in limited action last year. He appeared in three games and also caught a two-yard pass. At ASU, Foster was used at running back and receiver. He accumulated at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first three seasons at ASU before totaling 864 his senior year. He will wear No. 37.
The team also announced practice squad moves. Tackle Givens Price was re-signed while cornerback Ryan Lewis and running back James Summers were released.
