TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Dallas Cowboys drew the blueprint Sunday on how to run against the San Francisco 49ers without linebacker NaVorro Bowman in the lineup.

It’ll be up the Arizona Cardinals to use it Thursday night.

Before Bowman left the game with an Achilles injury, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot ran for 53 yards on 11 carries, with 30 coming before contact. After Bowman left, the rookie ran for 85 yards on 12 carries, with 67 coming before contact.

Imagine what Cardinals running back David Johnson can do.

Johnson's Impact With Carson Palmer out Sunday, we might see even more David Johnson. Johnson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (510) this season, accounting for 33 percent of the Arizona Cardinals' offense. He's accounted for a higher percentage of offense than any other Cardinal in the past 15 seasons: PLAYER PCT. SEASON David Johnson 33.4 2016 Anquan Boldin 31.6 2003 Edgerrin James 27.5 2006 Marcel Shipp 27.3 2002

Johnson is ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing with 300 yards, but he’s fourth in yards after first contact with 141. The Niners can try to get an early hit on him, but his 224-pound frame can absorb and shake it off while he stays on his feet, as he’s shown countless times this season. That’s not to say Johnson can’t get in yards before the initial hit. He’s ranked 13th in the NFL in yards before first contact, with 159.

“We run very similar plays, so hopefully we can have some of the success they were having,” coach Bruce Arians said. “Whoever’s in there [in place of Bowman] is going to have three walk-throughs, and he didn’t just get thrown into the fire. There’s always a letdown when you lose a guy like that on the sideline. I think it probably affected them a little bit.”

But a trend is emerging. When Johnson has more receiving yards than rushing, the Cardinals win. It’s only happened once this season. Johnson has yet to run for 100 yards, but he has more than 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the Cardinals’ four games, currently the longest active streak in the NFL.

Where Johnson could wreak havoc on the Niners’ defense is his ability to line up wide as a receiver. His 510 yards from scrimmage as a receiver and rusher is the most in the NFL, as are his 229 yards after first contact. San Francisco has given up 100 or more yards from scrimmage to seven different players in its first four games, including 157 to Elliott on Sunday.

The 49ers have had time to plan for Johnson without the luxury of Bowman, a four-time All Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler. But that might not matter against Johnson.