Arizona Cardinals receiver John Brown's sickle cell issue hampered his 2016 campaign, often keeping him off the practice field and limiting his snaps.
On Tuesday, team president Michael Bidwill told KMVP-AM in Phoenix he believes the speedy receiver, affectionately known as "Smokey," will be healthy in 2017.
"He is very healthy," Bidwill said, via the team's official website. "It looks like they found the issue and we'll get Smoke back the way we had him."
After initially believing Brown was dealing with a hamstring injury, the team learned in October that the 26-year-old carries a sickle cell trait that was causing the leg pain.
Hampered by pain that sapped his quickness and speed, Brown corralled careerlows in receptions (39), yards (517) and touchdowns (2) in 2016.
Last month, Brown posted a message on Instagram suggesting he feels like he can get back to being an explosive threat.
With Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald returning, and David Johnson looking healthy enough to make another run at the century mark in both rushing and receiving yards, the Cardinals have the potential to be an explosive offense in 2017 -- if they can upgrade the offensive line. However, Arizona needs a healthy Brown to help stretch the field in coach Bruce Arians' vertical pass offense.
