Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson will return in 2018 from the wrist injury that ended his 2017 season in Week 1, but he'll be coming back to a very different team.
Both head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer opted for retirement shortly after the conclusion of the regular season.
Johnson, however, says he tried to convince Palmer to play a 16th season.
"I think Carson's done," Johnson said, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "I've talked to him. I was trying to get him to come back just because he was another person who was very impactful not just on the field but also off the field. I was trying to recruit him to come back but I think his mindset is (to retire) - and I definitely understand where he's coming from."
Palmer was limited to just the first seven games of the season, due to a broken arm. He had completed 164 of 267 pass attempts for 1,978 yards and nine touchdowns, throwing seven interceptions along the way.
Even with the quarterback and coach positions wildly uncertain, Johnson still feels as though the Cardinals are the team to beat in the NFC West.
"We're definitely at the top," Johnson said. "It's a tough division but I feel like we're definitely still at the top. Even with all of those injuries, we still finished 8-8. With everyone coming back healthy next year, we're going to be at the top of the division."
