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Report: Cardinals' Johnson to have wrist surgery, out 2-3 months

Raj Mehta / USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson will undergo wrist surgery this week that will likely sideline him for two-to-three months, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing sources.

Head coach Bruce Arians revealed Monday that Johnson suffered a dislocated wrist in Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Cardinals will place the rusher on injured reserve, Schefter reports, which guarantees he would miss eight weeks. A two-to-three-month timeline puts December or January as the likely point of Johnson's return.

It's a devastating blow for a Cardinals team hoping to rebound from a disappointing 7-8-1 finish a year ago. Johnson is an invaluable piece of Arizona's offense. He tallied 1,239 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground in 2016 and was the team's second-leading receiver with 80 receptions for 1,023 yards and another six scores.

"It's always a huge blow to lose a top player," Arians said Monday, before Johnson received a second opinion. "But it's not the end of the world. It's an opportunity for someone to step up. David Johnson became David Johnson because of somebody's injury."

Kerwynn Williams carried the ball five times in Johnson's place for 10 yards and a score Sunday. The Cardinals also have Andre Ellington and Elijhaa Penny at the position, while Arians hinted the team might also bring back veteran Chris Johnson.

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