ARIZONA CARDINALS

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

Sep 10, 2017, 12:40 PM | Updated: 4:47 pm
Detroit Lions free safety Glover Quin, right, tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson ...
Detroit Lions free safety Glover Quin, right, tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
(AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

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 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.

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.

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.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate wears cleats adorned with a remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Lions strong safety Tavon Wilson intercepts an Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer pass during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) breaks a tackle after intercepting a Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford pass for an 82-yard touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate wears cleats adorned with a remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) celebrates with strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) after intercepting a Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford pass for an 82-yard touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate wears cleats adorned with a remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Lions defensive tackle Anthony Zettel (69) stops Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate wears cleats adorned with a remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) hands off to running back David Johnson (31) against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions free safety Glover Quin, right, tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Protesters rally for former quarterback Colin Kaepernick outside Ford Field and an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Protesters march in support of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick outside Ford Field and an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions punter Kasey Redfern (2) runs the ball out of the end zone as Arizona Cardinals running back Elijhaa Penny (35) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) runs past the reach of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones, left, during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) celebrates his 82-yard interception for a touchdown with Patrick Peterson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) tackles Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) on a run during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) is brought down by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) as Antoine Bethea (41) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) tackles Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) catches a 6-yard touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) breaks the tackle of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams (33) runs for a 3-yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) is injured against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. Johnson left the field for x-rays. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams (33) reacts with Evan Boehm (70) after scoring a 3-yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) walks off the field with medical staff for X-rays during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

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