Chris Johnson

Cards' Chris Johnson (hamstring) returns to practice Friday

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson, sidelined since August 20th with a hamstring pull, returned to full pad practice today.

What It Means:

Johnson needs to get in all the work he can just to make the Cardinals' 53-man roster. After missing practice for a week, it appears he's hoping to get right by the time the Cardinals third preseason game rolls around. He's facing an uphill battle for the team's no. 2 running back spot, as rookie David Johnson has wowed in preseason.

Johnson ranked 26th in per-play rushing NEP in 2014, and 26th in per-target Reception NEP among backs with at least 100 rushes. The Cardinals are really just banking on him for depth behind the oft-injured Andre Ellington. David Johnson should be able to stave off any attempts to steal his depth chart spot, no matter how the veteran does in the third week of the preseason.