Young Arizona Cardinals running backs out to impress
By Jim Koch
While David Johnson is entrenched as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting running back, the competition behind him will be fierce
Fans of the Arizona Cardinals can begin to rejoice. David Johnson, their impressive running back, is back. A recent “TMZ sports” video showing the Arizona star squatting 495 pounds three times is an indication of that.
Behind Johnson lies a contingent of young runners who’ll be competing this summer. Battling to be the stud’s number-one understudy. Vying for whatever touches Johnson doesn’t hog during the upcoming campaign.
This year’s fourth-round draft pick is one of those aiming to be the top backup. Early word out of the desert is that Fordham University’s Chase Edmonds has the inside track on the job. The 5’9″, 210 pounder put up eye-opening numbers at the college level, and could turn out to be the Cards’ surprise offensive addition of 2018.
Elijhaa Penny, an undrafted free agent in 2016, got to showcase himself a bit towards the end of last season. The 6’2″, 234 pound plodder toted the rock 31 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Penny is a bruising between-the-tackles type who lacks breakaway speed.
This past September, the Cardinals snatched D.J. Foster off of the New England Patriots’ practice squad. The former Arizona State Sun Devil is best-suited for a complimentary role. Foster’s strength is his pass-catching ability, evidenced by the fact that the 24-year old has more receptions (17) than carries (13) during his time in the NFL.
2017 fifth-round pick T.J. Logan, like Johnson, is also returning from a wrist injury. A tad undersized at 5’9″, 196 pounds, the University of North Carolina product will most likely be asked to return both kicks and punts this fall. What role Logan will play in new coordinator Mike McCoy’s offense remains to be seen.
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As long as his health cooperates, the Arizona scoring attack will center mostly on Johnson. The more playing time that the 26-year old gets, the better. The remainder of the running back room will be fighting for any scraps that Johnson the workhorse leaves on the table for them.