Lost in the chaos of what was one of the most eventful NFL trade deadlines ever was the report that Cardinals’ running back David Johnson likely won’t play this season:
Arians says at this point he doubts David Johnson plays again this season
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) October 31, 2017
Honestly, this decision shouldn’t come as a surprise as the Cardinals are 3-4, without starting quarterback Carson Palmer and look like butt. There seems to be no reason to push Johnson, who’s recovering from wrist surgery, back into play. Give him the entire season to get right and healthy and wait and see what you can do as a team in 2018.
The trade for Adrian Peterson also kinda tipped off this move as he would’ve had to have taken a backseat to Johnson, which was the very reason he pushed himself out of New Orleans in the first place. Since joining the Cardinals, Peterson has 37 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns, though almost all of that game in his first Cardinal game against the Buccaneers.
This NFL season could certainly have used a dose of David Johnson, but I’d much rather see him back, healthy and 100% ready to go next year than see him play a handful of games this season.