Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson tweeted a picture of his torn middle finger a day after the accident. Johnson lost part of his finger in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints and underwent surgery shortly after.
The injury occurred in the first half when Johnson went for a tackle on Saints running back Darren Sproles during a punt return, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reported. Johnson removed his glove and discovered the top part of his middle left finger still in the glove.
The bone of his finger was exposed, and he underwent surgery later that day.
"(Doctors) shaved bone on Johnson's finger and repaired (it). Lost about down to first knuckle," Somers tweeted on Monday.
Johnson posted a photo of the injury Monday night.
It's uncertain how exactly the fingertip was torn off. Johnson hasn't said what happened, but Somers speculated it "might have smashed in the ground."
Johnson is expected to play again this season and could be ready by Sunday, according to USA Today Sports.
"Injuries happen, this is the NFL," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, via USA Today Sports. "No one plays with the same 22 guys all the time. You hate for them to happen at the same position, but that's usually the way it happens."
Johnson, 27, recorded three tackles in the 31-7 loss to New Orleans. Arizona drafted him in the third round of the 2009 draft. Since then, Johnson has 146 tackles, one fumble and three interceptions.
