David Johnson Reports to Cardinals Training Camp After Contract Holdout

After skipping the team's minicamp in hopes of landing a long-term contract, Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson reported to training camp Monday.

Johnson, 26, sat out the Cardinals' final 15 games last season because of a wrist fracture. He's heading into the final year of a contract that will pay him $1.9 million in 2018.

The 2016 first-team All-Pro missed mandatory minicamp but was present for other offseason workouts while he and the Cardinals attempted to hash out a contract extension.

"I don't think there is any question David is one of our core players and someone we look forward to having a long-term future with," general manager Steve Keim told the team's website. "[It's] no different from in the past, when we've rewarded players like Pat Peterson, Chandler Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer, just to name a few. There's no doubt in my mind moving forward that we will keep a positive outlook and again, look forward to rewarding him just like we have players in the past."

Running back contracts have become a point of contention this offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers and star Le'Veon Bell failed to agree on a deal due to a squabble over guaranteed money. It's likely Bell, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2018, will leave the Steelers next offseason.

It would not be a surprise to see the Cardinals pull a similar move with Johnson. They could pretty easily use the franchise tag on him each of the next two years without tying up any long-term money. Their cap sheet is reasonable, and if Johnson returns to his 2016 form this season, he'll be a bargain at the running back franchise tag rate in 2019.

If the Cardinals franchise him the next two years, Johnson would be near the end of his prime as a running back by the time he actually hits unrestricted free agency.