The Arizona Cardinals started the season 2-0, but have lost five straight games since then. A 2-5 record has the franchise in shambles, with the fan base ready to revolt, as calls mount for the organization to part ways with head coach Jonathan Gannon.
However, there is one other curious detail about the season for this team. Every single game has been decided by one score or less, with all five of their losses as part of this losing streak coming by four or fewer points. Help could be on its way, just not from a source Arizona may have anticipated.
Former Franchise Icon Proposes Cardinals Running Back Solution
The situation, unfortunately, is made worse by the number of injuries on the roster, most notably with quarterback Kyle Murray missing the last two games. He isn’t the only one whose absence is hurting the Cardinals significantly.
In a game of inches, a better running back core could make a substantial difference, but both Trey Benson and James Conner are dealing with injuries. The latter went down with a season-ending injury in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers.
With surgery imminent, it was clear that he was done for the year immediately. Benson took over as the starter in his absence. But his tenure as RB1 did not last long, as an injury to his meniscus forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery.
Sidelined for four to six weeks at a minimum, he has yet to be taken off the injured reserve list. In their absence, though, the team could be looking back to its past for an answer, with one name seemingly in front of them.
David Johnson, who spent five seasons with the franchise after being drafted in the third round in 2015, had a monstrous 2016 campaign that saw him earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors on the back of 1,239 rushing yards, 879 receiving yards.
Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to injuries, forcing him to prematurely retire in 2024. At 33, though, it seems like he has a few bursts left in him. In a viral video on social media, Johnson teased coming back to the gridiron.
Describing a dark period in his life without football, he spoke to Cardinals beat writer Jake García about the journey out of it, stating that he was planning on running in the New York City marathon, as he got his life back on track.
However, he added one curious tidbit that clearly showcased his intentions: “I feel like I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been. Football, high school, anything, I’m in the best shape of my life right now. If they give me a call, I’ll suit up and play and do my best.”
Claiming he would “love the opportunity,” he made it clear that he wished to finish his career with Arizona. “I would love to play my last game with the Cardinals. It’d be the best.”
With how shallow the running core is, and without Murray in the lineup as well, the team does not have any true threats out of the backfield. Johnson might be a question mark, but he is a risk that they should be willing to take, given how desperate the situation has become for the Cardinals, ranked 23rd on PFSN’s OLi metric.