David Johnson suffers wrist injury vs. Lions

David Johnson’s hasn’t had an easy start to the 2017 season, after he suffered a wrist injury against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. The Arizona Cardinals ruled the running back questionable to return from the injury.

Prior to the injury, Johnson had just 23 yards rushing on 11 attempts, and the touchdown hawk hadn’t yet found the end zone.

According to Pro Football Talk, X-rays came up negative for the running back, which is a good early sign for the Cardinals. He’ll have an MRI on Monday, which should reveal the severity of the problem. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, it will determine whether he misses “a few weeks” or “half the season or more.”

On Monday, Adam Schefter reported a meeting with specialists was imminent.

The Cardinals are expecting their star tailback to miss extended time, and he may be a candidate to be placed on injured reserve. Head coach Bruce Arians compared Johnson’s diagnosis to that of rookie tailback T.J. Logan — a player currently stuck on the IR.

Johnson, 25, has been a fantasy owner’s dream come true in his first two seasons in the NFL. After scoring 13 total touchdowns as a rookie, he upped his total to 20 touchdowns in 2016 and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl.

What happens to the Cardinals’ offense if Johnson can’t return? The Arizona attack relied heavily on the pass against the Lions. With Johnson struggling to find room, the team turned to Carson Palmer, who threw 48 passes. But the veteran quarterback threw three interceptions and just one touchdown.

Without Johnson, the team could be even more one-dimensional, unless Kerwynn Williams can find success.

The Cardinals offense struggled before and after the injury suffered by Johnson, and the Arizona defense eventually struggled to continue to shut down the Lions’ offense. Detroit poured it on in the fourth quarter to win 35-23.