After joining a new team in each of the last two offseasons, running back Chris Johnson hopes to stick with his current team as he nears free agency once again. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com details, Johnson said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday night that he’d like to re-sign with the Cardinals for the 2016 season.
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“I feel like at this point in my career I am not really chasing the money,” Johnson said. “I can’t say I ever really chased the money, but when you’re a young guy in this league, you want to take care of your family and get the highest deal possible. I still want to get the best deal, but at the same time, I want to be somewhere where we have a chance to win. I feel like Arizona is the best place for me right now.”
Johnson, who turned 30 last September, had a bounce-back season of sorts in 2015 with the Cardinals. While his average of 4.2 yards per carry was actually a slight step down from his production with the Jets, he saw more playing time and got more touches in Arizona, racking up 814 rushing yards in just 11 games.
Unfortunately for Johnson, a fractured tibia suffered in the second half of the season sidelined him for the stretch run. Having been placed on IR with the designation to return, the veteran back would have been eligible to return to action if the Cardinals made the Super Bowl, but the team fell just short, losing to the Panthers in the NFC championship game.
Johnson is coming off a year in which he signed a one-year, $870K contract, with the ability to earn up to $1.3MM via incentives. I’d expect a slight raise for him this season, since he looked good before his injury, but he won’t be in line for a huge payday.
If the Cardinals bring him back, Johnson would likely have to compete with presumed starter David Johnson and backup Andre Ellington for touches.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.