Arizona Cardinals: RB Chris Johnson to start Thursday

The recent RB acquisition, who has yet to see the field for the Cardinals, should see a lot of work against Denver

ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that the Arizona Cardinals will start Chris Johnson at running back when the team takes on the Denver Broncos tonight at Mile High for the preseason finale.

Arizona coach Bruce Arians previously mentioned that no starters will play in the game tonight, meaning this is a chance for guys who are fighting for one of the few roster positions left on this team, or any team in the league, to show what they can do. Johnson has yet to play in a game for the Cardinals since he was signed on August 17 and experienced the epidemic hamstring issue that plagued injury sheets for most of the summer.

Johnson starting is a key indication that the Cardinals need to see what they have from the back who currently sits behind starter Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson on the depth chart. Johnson, previously of the Jets, has shown terrific flare in the past and could be a workhorse back, pounding the ball into the hole on first and second down whereas Ellington is more of a pass-catching, finesse back. Bruce Arians told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN that Johnson will get 10-12 carries in the game, but that could change depending on the flow and how he performs.

Final cuts are to be completed by Saturday at 1PM MST, but don’t be surprised if the Cardinals start making them as early as the conclusion of the game tonight or tomorrow morning.