T.J. Logan named Cardinals’ breakout candidate by ESPN
Aug 21, 2018, 12:11 PM | Updated: 12:59 pm
Cardinals RB T.J. Logan waits during an OTA practice May 16. (Photo by Adam Green/Arizona Sports)
(Photo by Adam Green/Arizona Sports)
When thinking about the Cardinals’ running game, David Johnson most likely comes to mind — not T.J. Logan.
However, Logan was recently named as a possible breakout player for Arizona in ESPN’s Predicting Breakout Candidates for all 32 teams.
The Cardinals selected Logan, a UNC product, with a fifth-round pick in 2017. Logan did not play last season due to a wrist injury he suffered in last year’s Hall of Fame Game.
Before the injury, reporters were raving about his success in training camp, citing his “quickness and cut-back ability.”
Despite not playing, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss said Logan’s special teams abilities before the injury were special.
But what he showed before that injury was lightning-quick speed as a returner. If he can reproduce that acceleration this season, he won’t just have a regular role on on special teams, he’ll thrive and establish himself as one of David Johnson’s primary backups.
Currently, Logan is listed as the starting kick returner and the second-string punt returner on the depth chart behind rookie Christian Kirk.
Seeing Logan as a breakout candidate this year is a little surprising, considering he is fourth on the depth chart at running back and David Johnson is well-regarded as one of the best backs in the league when healthy.
Also in front of Logan at running back are Chase Edmonds and D.J. Foster. Edmonds is a rookie out of Fordham, and Foster is an ASU product who has rushed for just 43 yards in his two years in the league.
Before joining the Cardinals, Logan rushed for a total of 2,165 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. In addition to what he did on the ground, he also returned five kicks for touchdowns at UNC.
In the Cardinals’ first two preseason games of 2018, Logan has rushed for 22 yards on 12 carries, averaging just under 2 yards per carry. Logan has also returned three kicks, his longest being 26 yards, and returned a punt for 19 yards.
Logan will get another chance to prove his worth in the Cardinals’ running game in the team’s next preseason game Sunday against the Cowboys.
