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Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson Suffers MCL Sprain, Surgery Not Needed

By Griffin Fabits

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) is helped off the field after being injured during a play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) is helped off the field after being injured during a play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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In his second year in the league, Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson rushed for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns in the team’s 16 games.

The Arizona Cardinals can take a huge sigh of relief today after hearing the details of running back David Johnson’s injury.

Johnson suffered the injury in the season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. In a rushing play to the left, the 25-year old had his leg crushed by a Rams defender, and visibly bent in a way that legs don’t normally bend. 

He was taken out of the game, but did so under his own power. He managed to walk off the field and was able to put weight on his his knee. Head coach Bruce Arians assured that while it looked ugly, it appeared that nothing was seriously damaged.

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News broke today from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that Johnson had only suffered an MCL sprain and the injury would not require surgery.

Although it was the last game of the regular season and one that had no playoff implications on the line, it was frightening to see a player like Johnson go down with a knee-related injury. The first and obvious thought was a potential ACL tear, which can take over a year to recover from.

Secondly, it would be heartbreaking to see Johnson suffer that sort of injury, and one in which would require him to be sidelined until well into next season. He was the Cardinals best weapon on offense this season, and is sure to be a threat for years to come.

For the time being, Johnson will be out for six weeks with the MCL sprain in his right leg and will thankfully not need surgery. He should be well-rested and healthy when OTA’s begin in April, barring any setbacks.

While the Cardinals managed to crush the Rams 44-6, there was still an uneasy feeling after their Week 17 win. There won’t be a next week for this team, but the health of Johnson was still a major concern heading into the off-season.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Disappointing Season Ends on a Two-Game Win Streak

It’s reassuring to know that he should be back to his usual, dominant ways in 2017.

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