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Cardinals GM: David Johnson is 'the best receiving back I've seen'

Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Arizona Cardinals can barely contain their excitement over second-year running back David Johnson's potential.

The 24-year-old has been the recipient of sky-high praise throughout the offseason from the Cardinals' coaching staff, and also general manager Steve Keim, who believes Johnson's receiving abilities may be unparalleled.

"His receiving and ball skills are second to none," Keim said, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. "I mean, probably the best receiving back I've seen."

Keim continued: "A lot of people have compared him to Marshall Faulk, and our coaches had Marshall Faulk in Indy," Keim said. "I think he's very similar in some ways athletically and in terms of ball-catching skills to Marshall."

Johnson averaged 135 yards from scrimmage in the last seven games of the Cardinals' 2015 season, showing equal prowess as a runner and receiver.

He became the featured back after injuries hit Arizona's backfield, and his workload appears set to only increase in 2016.

Johnson has impressed the Cardinals so much in training camp that Keim refused to reveal exactly how good he's been, for fear of jinxing him

"I don't even want to talk about what I've seen from David Johnson, because I don't want to jinx it," Keim said. "It's scary."

Head coach Bruce Arians also wouldn't elaborate on his performances.

"I'm afraid to say it," Arians said," because then he'll get hurt."

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