After spending the offseason prescribing aheavy workload for dual-threat David Johnson, the Cardinals are building backfield depth as they prepare for training camp.
Arizona re-signed veteran tailback Chris Johnson to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday. A source informed of the deal told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero the contract has a base salary of $1 million with $200,000 guaranteed. He can make more in incentives.
Set to turn 32 years old in September, the elder Johnson figures to battle Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington for snaps behind the entrenched starter.
Although the younger Johnson insists he can handle 30 touches per game, it was never a realistic proposition that Arians would test that notion. It's rare for any NFL back to touch the ball even 25 times per game over the course of a 16-game season.
The artist formerly known as "CJ2K" succeeded in resurrecting a stalled career in the desert, running for more than 800 yards before a cracked tibia ended his 2015 season in late November. He played just four games with Arizona last season, going down with a groin injury in early October.
Left to languish on the open market all offseason, Johnson has said his priority is to sign with a contender willing to give him a shot at the 463 rushing yards needed to reach 10,000 for his career.
While the Cardinals are a prime candidate to bounce back to playoff form this season, Johnson seems unlikely to reach his milestone absent an injury to the All Pro atop the depth chart.
