David Johnson suffers MCL sprain in Cardinals season finale, will not need surgery

Jan 1, 2017, 3:09 PM | Updated: Jan 2, 2017, 11:25 am

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is taken off the field after being injured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN

ArizonaSports.com lead editor

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson went down with a left knee injury in the season finale against the Los Angeles Rams.

Head coach Bruce Arians said Monday the injury is an MCL sprain and will not require surgery.

Arians told the media the injury was “nothing serious” after the game though he was keeping his fingers crossed.

“He’s got a big smile on his face and he’s walking around,” Arians told Arizona Sports 98.7’s Paul Calvisi. “It does not appear to be ligament damage.”

Johnson was seen walking with a brace Monday but was walking without help or crutches.

Taking an outside rush to the left, Johnson’s left leg was caught under a Rams player’s body as his own body twisted backward. After laying on the turf, Johnson gingerly was helped off the field with 4:20 to play in the first quarter. Trainers continued to look at the second-year back on a trainer’s table on the Cardinals’ sideline.

Arizona’s star running back was carted off to the locker room but returned to the sideline in the second half wearing a knee brace.

Per @PaulCalvisi on Cardinals sidelines, Johnson is back on the sidelines in sweats, w/brace on left knee and smiling #AZvsLA

— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) January 1, 2017

FOX sideline reporter Jen Hale said Johnson was in extreme pain when the medical staff tested his knee.

Per @PaulCalvisi on Cardinals sidelines, Johnson "was really favoring the left knee"; and has since been carted back to locker room #AZvsLA

— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) January 1, 2017

Johnson entered Sunday against the Rams with 1,233 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 288 attempts to go with 841 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions.

Having entered Week 17 looking to make it 16 games of 100 or more scrimmage yards in a season — that would be a new NFL record — Johnson left the game with five carries for six yards and three catches for 38 more.

Last week, Johnson joined Barry Sanders as the only two players to record 15 straight games of 100 or more yards from scrimmage.

Andre Ellington replaced Johnson at running back.

Here is a video of Johnson’s injury.