David Johnson injures wrist after taking hit, fumbling vs. Lions

David Johnson exited to the Arizona Cardinals locker room after taking a hard hit on a reception and then fumbling on the next third-quarter possession. The starting running back didn’t return in the Cardinals’ 35-23 loss on Sunday to the Detroit Lions.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the initial read on the injury is a sprained wrist with no break.

The preliminary diagnosis for #AZCardinals RB David Johnson is a sprained wrist, sources say. No break. MRI tomorrow. Next play, he fumbled.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2017

The Cardinals will look over an MRI of Johnson’s wrist to evaluate his availability moving forward.

That MRI, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, will determine a lot.

On David Johnson's injured wrist – a team source says will determine whether he'll miss a "few weeks" or "half the season or more"

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 10, 2017

MRI on Monday will that determination https://t.co/joW9eGtn11

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 10, 2017

Head coach Bruce Arians also told Paul Calvisi of 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station the injury was suffered on the fumble play, not on the reception that led to him lying on his back and appearing to catch his wind minutes prior to the turnover.

David Johnson got popped pic.twitter.com/LvGoNodHBs

— IGIFRY (@IGIFRY) September 10, 2017

Late in the third quarter, Johnson was wedged between three Detroit defenders after making a 24-yard catch at the Lions’ 3-yard line. He left the game, and backup running back Kerwynn Williams scored on a short touchdown run to make it a 17-9 Arizona lead.

To follow, the Cardinals forced a Lions punt and on the first play of the next offensive possession, Johnson returned to rush for 11 yards but got the ball punched out. The Lions scored a touchdown and failed on the two-point conversion to make it a 17-15 Arizona lead.

The Cardinals allowed 26 straight points to Detroit after the Johnson injury, giving the Lions a 35-17 lead with four minutes to go.

In the first half of the game, the offensive line took a hit when starting left tackle D.J. Humphries left in the first quarter with a knee injury, and Arizona was already coming in with left guard Mike Iupati fighting through a triceps injury to play.

But at the crux of the problems was the ineffective run game.

Detroit held Johnson, the All-Pro running back, to 15 yards rushing on nine totes in the first half. He left with 11 carries for 28 yards and led the team with six catches for 68 more.

Finding a rhythm didn’t come easily for the Arizona Cardinals’ offense.

Quarterback Carson Palmer looked rusty Sunday against the Detroit Lions, throwing two picks and going 10-of-24 in the first half, but he led a 94-yard drive for a score that ended with Williams’ run.

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