Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians isn't "fired up" about the performance of his group of running backs thus far into Cardinals training camp. As such, Arians and Arizona GM Steve Keim have offered former Titans and Jets running back and record-holder for the fastest time ever recorder in a 40-yard-dash at the NFL rookie scouting combine, Chris Johnson, a one-year contract, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.
Per Russini, the offer is on the table and Johnson is mulling it. It's likely to be very low value, so Johnson is probably weighing the option of signing for limited dollars now or waiting and hoping a training camp injury garners a better figure.
Since being selected by the Titans in the first-round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Johnson has posted five seasons of over 1,000-yards rushing and one season of over 2,000-yards rushing. He fell out of favor in Tennessee at the same time as the franchise seemed to bottom out and eventually landed with New York last season. Despite a down year in which he managed just 663-yards rushing and one touchdown, Johnson still averaged 4.3 yards-per-carry and presumably still possesses much of the explosive ability that once made him such a high draft pick.
He was also injured earlier this offseason in a shooting, but recent reports have suggested he's well on his way to a return to health.
For the Cardinals, Johnson wouldn't necessarily represent a desperation move, but it would certainly indicate that Arians isn't liking what he's seeing from the team's collection of ballcarriers. Andre Ellington, while dynamic, has dealt with injury issues both in previous seasons and during this current preseason. Recent draft pick David Johnson has also missed time and is said to be "very iffy" to see any practice whatsoever this week. Even unheralded Marion Grice has been out of commission of late.
Considering Arians is an old-school coach who likely wants to protect his aging quarterback, Carson Palmer, with a strong running game, the limited talent the team is fielding in their backfield is probably cause for considerable concern.
UPDATE, 9:35 AM: Russini is now reporting that Johnson's hesitation to sign the deal stems from a concern that he may not make the team. While Russini reports that Johnson is in "the best shape of his life," with Johnson and Ellington already in place in Arizona, it may not be the right situation.
