Arizona Cardinals hoping Chris Johnson returns to nest

The free agent market has been lukewarm for the former Tennessee Titans’ star but the Arizona Cardinals would like him back

Arizona couple of weeks ago, it appeared that Chris Johnson’s time with the Arizona Cardinals may be over. The club had re-signed Andre Ellington to be the backup to their stud starter, David Johnson. Though the trio of backs had co-existed since 2015, it was thought that Chris Johnson would seek more playing time elsewhere.

The team has since announced that Ellington would be switching to wide receiver, and now Chris Johnson may be back in play. Head coach Bruce Arians has indicated that he’d very much like to have the three-time Pro Bowler back.

The 31-year old had been extremely durable during his NFL years before joining the Cardinals in 2015. But injuries cut short each of his last two campaigns. He has rushed for 909 yards and has scored four touchdowns since arriving in the desert.

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Ellington’s position change has left the Cards with just two other running backs. Kerwynn Williams played well down the stretch last season, averaging 8.7 yards per carry and finding the end zone twice. In three years in Arizona, he’s rushed for 545 yards and three scores, averaging 5.6 yards per rush.

Elijhaa Penny appears to be in the Cardinals’ plans. The 6’2″, 234lb University of Idaho product finished the 2016 preseason strong, leaving an impression on the coaches. Penny will have a good chance of making the final roster if they keep four backs, as they’ve done in the past.

Bringing Chris Johnson back into the fold makes sense for the Cards. His abilities as both a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield make him a perfect compliment to David Johnson. He was outstanding in ’15, accumulating 814 yards on the ground before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Up until this point, Chris Johnson has made no known free agent visits. He’s most likely looking for a starting gig, but those days are probably over. However, there’s a squad out in the Arizona desert that wants him back, and are waiting on his decision.