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No Surgery Needed For David Johnson

Pro Bowl running back only has an MCL sprain

DavidOKMAIN.jpg


Cardinals running back David Johnson addresses the media Monday after the news that he will not need surgery after his knee injury.


David Johnson is OK.

The Pro Bowl running back will not need surgery after suffering a scary-looking left knee injury during Sunday's finale against the Rams in Los Angeles.

Johnson sprained his MCL, an injury similar to the one suffered by safety Tony Jefferson the week before in Seattle. He will not play in the Pro Bowl while rehabbing the injury. But he will be fine long-term after about six to eight weeks.

"Great news," Johnson said.

Johnson said he wasn't worried after his initial scare following the contact.

"After I got in the locker room and calmed down, I was fine," Johnson said.

He did watch the replay, and admitted there was a "tremendous amount of relief" once he knew for sure he didn't have significant damage. Skipping the Pro Bowl does have a silver lining – his wife is due to give birth to their first child a couple of days before the game, and while Johnson planned to be available for both, this will ease his schedule.

The injury cost Johnson a chance at a couple of records he sought: Gaining 100 yards from scrimmage in all 16 games in a season, and reaching 1,000 yards receiving. Johnson had 44 total yards before his first quarter injury, including 38 receiving. He had needed 159 yards receiving to reach 1,000.

"We were having some success early on, Carson (Palmer) was throwing some great balls and I was catching them," Johnson said. "I definitely thinking I was going to be able to get there."

He did admit he was "so much more proud" he got the best-case scenario with his knee than any records on which he might've missed out.

Arians said Johnson could gain 200 yards from scrimmage every game next year, and when the media contingent chuckled, Arians said "I'm serious. He's capable." The notion brought a smile to Johnson's face.

"That's good to hear from him," Johnson said. "He's the one who is giving me the opportunity."



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