Chris Johnson (tibia) enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Johnson (tibia) enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Analysis:

After Johnson landed on short-term IR on Dec. 1 due to a fractured tibia in his left leg, his sole appearance thereafter would have been in the Super Bowl, and Jay Glazer of FOX Sports even reported before Sunday's NFC championship game that the veteran RB would have been activated upon an Arizona victory. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Panthers wiped away that possibility with a thorough beatdown. While Johnson is nearing the end of his recovery, his absence allowed David Johnson to stake a claim to the top running back gig, leaving general manager Steve Keim to evaluate whether the elder Johnson is a part of the Cardinals' future.