GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Free-agent running back Chris Johnson will visit the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Johnson, a former New York Jets and Tennessee Titans running back, will take a physical while in Arizona. If he passes and the two sides can work out a deal -- both of which are likely to happen -- then Johnson will join the Cardinals' injury-riddled backfield.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Tuesday that the Cards made Johnson a one-year offer.
The Cardinals have been thin at running back for the past couple of weeks. Starter Andre Ellington returned to 11-on-11 drills Thursday during training camp after missing the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. Rookie David Johnson (hamstring) has yet to practice since the Cardinals put on pads on the third day of camp. Marion Grice also has been out with a hamstring injury.
Johnson, who will turn 30 in September, became an unrestricted free agent after the Jets declined to exercise their option after the 2014 season. He recorded career lows for carries (155), rushing yards (663) and rushing touchdowns (one) last season after signing a two-year, $8 million deal. It was the first time in his seven-year career that he failed to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Before his 1,077-yard season with the Titans in 2013, in which he averaged 3.9 yards per carry, Johnson never averaged less than 4.0 yards per rush over a season. Even last year, he gained 4.3 yards per rush.
By comparison, the Cardinals averaged 3.29 yards per rush last season -- the lowest in the NFL.
Johnson was arrested in Orlando, Florida, during the offseason for openly carrying a weapon, but officials decided not to pursue charges. In a separate incident, he also was shot in the right shoulder during a drive-by shooting that left a friend with bullet wounds and the driver of their car dead.
