David Johnson, not only the Arizona Cardinals No.1 running back but the No.1 pick in many fantasy leagues, suffered what has been reported as a sprained left wrist.

There are slightly varying reports regarding how long Johnson might be out:


Playing a running back with an injured upper extremity is a coaching decision.

In 2014, DeMarco Murray had surgery on a broken left hand and played for Dallas the next week with a club and carried the ball only in his right hand. (He had 22 carries for 58 yards.) With Johnson more involved in the passing game, playing with what would essentially be one hand would be more of a hindrance.


Viewing video Sunday, there was no clear mechanism of injury to Johnson other than a direct blow. With reports that X-rays revealed no fracture, there can be some optimism. Certainly, a wrist ligament could have been injured and not seen on video, but that type of injury doesn’t happen with a direct blow.

On this site, we rely on medical knowledge/experience and video analysis rather than sources. As imperfect as that is, hope can be had that Johnson will miss minimal time.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after the game the injury was suffered on Johnson’s third-quarter fumble and not the previous play at the goal line. Johnson had also taken a hard hit after a completion a couple minutes earlier and was tended to by medical staff.


Johnson’s wrist took a direct blow on the previous play but not on the play he fumbled. And that was not a hit so big it would obviously cause a fumble. Thus, perhaps his grip was affected.

Johnson clearly favored the wrist after the fumble and did not really use his left wrist to help himself get up. After making what was, essentially, a one-armed tackle on the defender who recovered the ball, Johnson then flexed and extended his left wrist as if to check it out.

Johnson will be checked out again Monday. Then we will know more about the running back so many people are rooting for.

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