Arizona Cardinals star running back David Johnson dislocated his wrist in Sunday's 35-23 loss to the Detroit Lions. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Johnson is expected to miss an extended period of time due to the injury and is a candidate for injured reserve.
Sources: #AZCardinals RB David Johnson (wrist) is expected to miss an extended period of time. Getting more opinions, but an IR candidate.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 11, 2017
"Despite initial X-rays coming back negative on Johnson's wrist, the 25-year-old runner is busy gathering second opinions on the injury," writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com.
Cardinals website senior manager Darren Urban believes that surgery could be on the horizon for Johnson but the injury may not be season-ending. Placing Johnson on short-term injured reserve would prevent the running back from practicing with his team for six weeks after being placed on injured reserve. He would be able to return to the Cardinals roster after eight weeks.
If David Johnson second opinion is same as first, he will have surgery and go on IR. Like Logan, could return later this season.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 11, 2017
The San Francisco 49ers face the Cardinals during Week 4 and Week 9. In two games against the 49ers last season, Johnson ran the football 46 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. His best game against the 49ers came during an October 6 matchup in Santa Clara when Johnson averaged 5.8 yards per carry on his way to 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnson finished last season with 1,239 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added 80 receptions for 879 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson's 2,118 yards from scrimmage last season led the NFL.
In 2016, the 49ers defense allowed a franchise- and league-worst 2,654 rushing yards, which is an average of about 166 yards per game. Against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, it gave up only 116 yards on the ground. While that number is nowhere near the best in the league, it is an improvement over the 176 rushing yards it gave up to Carolina during Week 2 last season.
Johnson is in his third NFL season after being drafted out of Northern Iowa by Arizona in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.