Arizona Cardinals: Don’t expect injured players back
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals are finding their injured stars aren’t healing as expected
The line given to fans from the Arizona Cardinals is that guys like running back David Johnson aren’t healing from their injuries as they expected. Word is he will not return in 2017.
Is it really the injury though that is keeping Johnson out. It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact the team is 4-6 and although still mathematically in the hunt for the playoffs, realistically that ship has sailed.
There really is no reason to bring Johnson back at this point. The same goes for quarterback Carson Palmer or running back T.J. Logan.
It would seem the idea of Palmer returning in 2018 is very realistic at this point. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed a contract extension last week for one-year.
Cardinals RB David Johnson has not progressed from his wrist injury as Arizona hoped and is not expected to return this season, per HC Bruce Arians.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 23, 2017
While that doesn’t guarantee a return in 2018 for Fitz, it now does seem more likely than not. Palmer is already under contract for 2018. Then you get back what will be David Johnson’s fourth NFL season, another run for the Super Bowl is possible.
More from Raising Zona
- 3 Arizona Cardinals players who won’t be missed in 2023
- Arizona Cardinals: Do you believe Payton’s take or Bradshaw’s take?
- DeAndre Hopkins future with Arizona Cardinals still a mystery
- Are the Arizona Cardinals looking to add more coaching candidates?
- One bad thing that may come from Arizona Cardinals hiring Mike Kafka
Rookie Logan was expected to miss 8-12 weeks initially, same as Johnson. Now neither may see the field again in 2017 and that’s alright.
Certainly we will never truly get a straight answer as to whether these guys really could have come back or not but does it matter now? It only matters if the Cardinals found a miracle, went on a three game winning streak at home and went back out on the road to Washington at 7-6 in mid-December.
For now, most just want all three healthy and returning in 2018. Of course there is also a sincere hope the Cardinals start planning their offensive future in the draft this offseason. They will need a quarterback and new number one receiver to compliment Johnson going forward.
Either way, we hope that Johnson, Palmer, and Logan all heal properly and can come back in OTA’s this spring. Birdgang is counting on it!