Chris Johnson Injury: Updates on Cardinals RB's Hamstring and Return

The Arizona Cardinals added Chris Johnson to provide some depth and experience to the backfield, but the move already suffered its first hurdle after Johnson was injured during practice. He has since returned to practice and is expected to play in the team's fourth preseason game.

Continue for updates.

---

Chris Johnson to Start vs. Broncos

Wednesday, Sept. 2

The Cardinals will start tomorrow's game against the Denver Broncos with Johnson in the backfield, "barring an unexpected circumstance," according to ESPN's Josina Anderson.

The latest update comes after Johnson practiced Tuesday, according to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910.

On Aug. 23, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians announced Johnson pulled his hamstring, which caused him to miss the team's 22-19 loss to the San Diego Chargers, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.

It didn't take Johnson long into his career to earn his CJ2K nickname. By the end of his stint with the Tennessee Titans, however, that nickname probably would have been more accurate if it were CJ1K. 

In his first three seasons in the league, Johnson averaged 1,532 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns per season, highlighted by his 2,006 rushing yards in 2009. In his last three seasons with the Titans, however, those averages dropped to 1,122 rushing yards and five touchdowns per year.

Not only that, despite being known as an explosive runner capable of breaking off a long gain at any moment, Johnson averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry in 2013. Tennessee promptly released him in the offseason, and the Jets signed him to form a thunder-and-lightning pair with Chris Ivory.

For the first time in his seven-year NFL career, Johnson failed to eclipse 1,000 yards, falling well short with only 663. His attempts per game also dropped nearly in half from 17.4 in 2013 to 9.7 in 2014.

The Cardinals only signed Johnson for one year, so it's not outside the realm of possibility he'd fail to make the final roster before the regular season. Of course, the chances that happens are remote.