TEMPE, Ariz. – With less than a week until he can return to practice six weeks after fracturing his tibia, Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson said he’ll be ready to return to the field on Tuesday.

“I feel like I’m ahead of schedule,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I wouldn’t say I’d be ready to play a game tomorrow, but I feel like I’m ahead of schedule. I’ve been running for two weeks now in the pool and then outside so it’s been pretty good.”

Running back Chris Johnson said Wednesday that he's 'ahead of schedule' in his recovery. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Johnson said he also has been cutting but will need practice time to get his wind back. The 30-year-old running back said, as of Wednesday, he’s 80- to 85-percent healthy, but pointed out most, if not all, players are about that healthy at this point in season.

While he can begin practicing Tuesday, Johnson won’t be allowed to play for the Cardinals again until Super Bowl 50. He is eligible to return six weeks after being placed on injured reserve/designated to return on Dec. 1 and eligible to play in a game after eight weeks.

So, if Arizona should advance to the Super Bowl, a rested Johnson will be ready and waiting.

But how coach Bruce Arians will use Chris Johnson, who was fourth in rushing when he got hurt, now that rookie David Johnson has emerged as a stout every-down back is yet to be seen. But the elder Johnson isn’t concerning himself with it.

“I feel like everything will be all right,” Chris Johnson said. “Everything will work out how it’s supposed to work out. I’m going to be ready for it. B.A.’s the type of coach, if he knew he wasn’t going to use me, I feel like he’d just put me on IR. He wouldn’t want me to come back for the Super Bowl if he didn’t want to use me.”

This is the first time in Johnson’s eight-year career that he has missed games because of an injury. He played all 16 games in his last six seasons. As a rookie in 2008 with Tennessee, he sat out Week 17 as the Titans prepared for the playoffs.

Johnson said watching the Cardinals from the sideline has been “terrible.” There came a point, Johnson said, when he realized there was simply nothing he could do about being injured.

“I know there ain’t nothing really I can do but rehab and get my leg back,” Johnson said, “and just get ready for the Super Bowl.”