Bill Polian, Adam Schefter and Tedy Bruschi offer their takes on a player like David Johnson skipping minicamp when he has an existing contract. (1:50)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is skipping this week's mandatory minicamp in hopes of getting a new contract.

The two sides have been in discussions regarding a new contract and are hopeful a new deal will be reached before the start of the season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson, who is heading into the last year of his rookie contract, is due to make $1.905 million this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and the team can franchise him in 2019 and 2020.

The Cardinals' minicamp began Tuesday, and Johnson's absence was a talking point.

"Again, I think for the most part, guys have been dialed in since April 3, learning the system, doing the things they have to do in each phase and we've gotten to this point," coach Steve Wilks said. "David's not here, and we got to keep going. This is the National Football League. It doesn't stop for myself or any other player. You guys have seen it across league throughout the years. We have three minicamp days we have to get out here and participate and we plan on getting better each and every day."

Johnson did not participate in the two OTA practices last week that were open to the media, and Wilks categorized his absence as an injury.

"The one thing I will say in regards to that, you know, it's the offseason and I'm not going to really indulge in injuries or things like, what guys are doing that's not participating," Wilks said. "We're going to talk about the guys that are out there."

Johnson suffered injuries in the past two games he played.

In 2016, his season ended with an MCL injury in Week 17, and he finished 121 receiving yards short of becoming the third player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving. Johnson was named a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler after rushing for 1,239 yards, adding 879 receiving yards and scoring 20 touchdowns.

He was then hurt in Week 1 in 2017 and was sidelined for 15 games with a fractured left wrist.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.