ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ David Johnson explains crucial fourth-quarter play

Sep 24, 2018, 4:22 PM | Updated: 4:51 pm

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson stretches out with teammates prior to an NFL football ...

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson stretches out with teammates prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

The Arizona Cardinals answered a looming question regarding their starting quarterback situation Monday afternoon.

But what about the decision to have Chase Edmonds, not starting running back David Johnson, in on the biggest play of Sunday’s game?

Johnson explained what exactly happened on the crucial 3rd-and-2 play in the fourth quarter in which Edmonds — not Johnson — got the carry on Monday.

“It was actually the play before the 3rd-and-two,” Johnson said Monday of what transpired in the fourth quarter. “The play before I missed the blitz so I had to go on the sideline and talk to [running backs coach] Kirby [Wilson] about it because I actually did not see the guy and that’s my guy.

“[Wilson] called me out to talk about it, that’s why I hope and I want my head coach keeps me accountable. I want my teammates to keep my accountable and when they mess up I want them to tell me what I did wrong.”

With two minutes left to play and rookie Josh Rosen under center, the Cardinals were looking at 3rd-and-2 at the Bears’ 45-yard line. Edmonds got the handoff, but was hit behind the line of scrimmage for a three-yard loss. The next play, the rookie quarterback would throw an interception, ending the comeback bid.

“I have full trust in Chase, everyone has trust in Chase,” Johnson said of his fellow running back. “We’ve been talking about Chase since he’s been on the team about how great a running back he is and he’s able to do the plays that they call and they don’t have any second-guess of what’s called when he’s in there.”

Following the team’s 16-14 loss to the Chicago Bears, head coach Steve Wilks called the decision to have Edmonds in during the critical moment the right move.

“We have total confidence, number one, in Chase as well as David,” Wilks said after the game. “We got the call right there. I don’t think it was really who was in the game, it was penetration up front. Got to do a better job as far as blocking in that situation.”

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals added more pass-rushing help in an NFL mock draft released Tuesday...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals address pass rusher in Field Yates’ latest NFL mock draft

ESPN's Field Yates has the Arizona Cardinals adding a key piece to their pass-rushing department in his latest NFL mock draft.

9 hours ago

Super Bowl NFL...

Dan Bickley

Lessons from the 2024 NFL season, and what the Cardinals need to flourish

Monti Ossenfort needs to pull the right levers, signing high-end talent in free agency and drafting impact players just like the Eagles did in 2024.

23 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

1 day ago

Chiefs Eagles...

Associated Press

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl 3-peat with dominant defense in rout

The Chiefs didn't come close to completing their 3-peat, as the Eagles' dominant defense led Philadelphia to a rout and Super Bowl victory.

2 days ago

Cooper DeJean...

Damon Allred

Eagles stun Chiefs with pick-6, shutout first half in Super Bowl

Cooper DeJean had more yards on his pick-six than Patrick Mahomes had to his own team as the Philadelphia Eagles blitzed the Kansas City Chiefs to a shutout first half.

2 days ago

Aaron Rodgers...

Associated Press

Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they’re ‘moving on’ from the QB for next season, report says

Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating whether to continue his playing career. If he does, it appears it won’t be with the New York Jets.

2 days ago

Cardinals’ David Johnson explains crucial fourth-quarter play