Chris Johnson To Continue Playing
Chris Johnson is done for the season, but he is not going to call it a career. Johnson says his body feels good and he’d like to play a couple more seasons (Twitter link via Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com). 
Johnson was placed on IR in October with a groin injury. He was hoping to be the team’s one player to be designated for return, but that door was shut when safety Tyvon Branch got the nod instead. This year, Johnson had just 95 yards and one touchdown off of 28 carries. But, in 2015, he racked up 814 rushing yards in eleven games. There’s reason to believe that Johnson can still be a contributor as he enters his age-32 season, even if he’s not starting material.
Johnson returned to the Cardinals on a one-year, $3MM deal this past offseason and it remains to be seen whether Arizona has interest in a reunion. David Johnson has a firm hold on the starting job and Andre Ellington is a solid No. 2 RB. Beyond them, the Cards have 25-year-olds Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams. Johnson took less money to stay with Arizona in the spring, but there might not be a place for him this time around.
Cardinals, Patrick Peterson Rework Contract
The Cardinals converted approximately $3.17MM of Patrick Peterson‘s base salary into a signing bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move creates $2.5MM in 2016 cap space. 
The Cardinals are near the bottom of the league in cap room and they needed a bit of a breather in the current year. We are past the trade deadline and there are no real premium free agents left on the board, but the Cardinals should now have enough space to make any minor signings that are necessary for the rest of the season.
Peterson is in the midst of a five-year, $70MM+ extension that was inked in the summer of 2014. That deal now stands as the third-highest in the league amongst cornerbacks in terms of total value and average salary per year. If the full contract is played out, the 26-year-old will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season.
The cornerback got some good news this week when he learned that he did not suffer structural damage to his left knee. Peterson’s knee was hit by the cleat of Falcons receiver Julio Jones on Sunday. The incident was painful, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any time as a result.
Opinion: Humphries Give Cards LT Options
- 2015 first-round pick D.J. Humphries played well in his first attempt at left tackle on Sunday, and his solid showing gives the Cardinals options going forward, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Not only could Humphries continue to play on the blindside in 2016, with Jared Veldheer moving to right tackle, but he could allow Arizona to move on from Veldheer in years to come if the club needs to create cap space.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Kevin Graf
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Asa Jackson
- Cut: LB James Burgess
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers, T Tyrus Thompson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Tony McRae
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Kennard Backman, RB D.J. Foster
New York Jets
- Cut: OL Zach Sterup
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Wynton McManis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kevin Smith
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks, RB Malcolm Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB D’Joun Smith
NFL Teams Showing Interest In Rugby Stars
Last year, rugby star Jarryd Hayne signed with the 49ers and tried his hand at the NFL. His stay in the league was short, but there are now a pair of rugby standouts that are hoping to follow his footsteps. Australian Rugby League players Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo tried out for teams on Saturday, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
The Bills, Bears, Browns, Packers, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Rams, Jets, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the 49ers were all in attendance for the workout (Twitter link). Taumalolo, 23, and Holmes, 21, ran passing routes, underwent speed and agility tests, and ran the 40-yard dash, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Taumalolo hears that he could project to fullback, tight end, or linebacker while Holmes was pegged as a wide receiver or safety.
At least four NFL teams expressed interest in taking a second look at the duo, the Australian Associated Press reports. Scouts from the Packers, Eagles, Jets, Chiefs and Cardinals appeared to be the most interested. The AAP writes that both players intend on fulfilling their NRL contracts for 2017, but one has to imagine that they could change their minds if presented with an NFL offer.
Cardinals Cut Third-Year Safety
- The Cardinals announced that they have waived safety Christian Bryant, whom they promoted from their practice squad earlier this month. A 2014 UDFA, Bryant vacillated between the Rams’ active roster and practice squad in 2015 before catching on with the Cardinals this year.
Steve Keim Not Ready For Cardinals Rebuild
Viewed as one of the NFC favorites after ascending to the NFC West title and the franchise’s second conference championship game since the merger last season, the Cardinals have joined the Panthers in putting together an underwhelming follow-up effort.
But GM Steve Keim does not see this as a sign to blow up the team and orchestrate a rebuilding process. Keim said during a radio appearance Monday he sees the potential for this group to make another run in 2017.
“I really do feel like there are enough good quality core pieces in place, not only contractually, but with age,” the fourth-year GM said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (via Bob McManamon of the Arizona Daily Republic). “We have a nice core of defenders, and I think we have some talent on offense. So whatever happens after the season, whether it’s players moving on or continuing to stay on or whatever it may be, I don’t think it’s a situation where it’s a complete revamp of this team to make it better.”
Arizona slunk to 4-6-1 after the loss in Atlanta. It’s not necessarily out of the realm of possibility the Cardinals make a last-ditch playoff push, as they sit less than two games out of the wild card, but it’s looking unlikely. And major offensive pieces are in or nearing the twilight of their careers. Carson Palmer will turn 37 next month and has not come close to resembling his 2015 version, and Larry Fitzgerald — who will be 34 in 2017 — has been linked to retirement rumors. His supporting-cast wideouts are mostly off their 2015 respective paces as well. Starting linemen Mike Iupati and A.Q. Shipley will also be over 30 next season.
However, the Cardinals’ defense ranked third in Football Outsiders’ DVOA entering Week 11, when it surrendered 38 points. Plenty of young talent remains there, although some starters are impending free agents.
“I think it’s going to be just some different pieces and we’ll continue to stay aggressive and I can tell you, as disappointing as things are, I’ve never been more excited to continue to try and improve this team and put this organization in a good position to succeed,” Keim said.
The Cardinals have the expiring contracts of Chandler Jones, Tony Jefferson, Calais Campbell and Michael Floyd to deal with after the season but stand to possess upwards of $37MM in cap space in 2017. Keim will need to make some key decisions since some key members of that talented defense are coming off the books soon.
Cardinals Promote Marquis Bundy
The Cardinals have promoted wide receiver Marquis Bundy from the practice squad to the active roster and cut fellow wideout Chris Hubert, per a team announcement.
Bundy, a Phoenix native, signed with the Cardinals in June as an undrafted free agent from New Mexico and had been on their practice squad since September. Bundy caught just 31 passes in 35 games during his college career, but he’ll now join an Arizona receiving corps that, like the team itself, has been a disappointment this year. One of the unit’s letdowns, Michael Floyd, has a hamstring injury and is questionable for the Cardinals’ game against the Falcons on Sunday.
Hubert, also an undrafted rookie, originally signed with the Cardinals in May after playing college football at Fayetteville State. The club promoted him to its active roster Oct. 26 to take the place of receiver Jaron Brown, who tore his ACL, but Hubert didn’t see any game action.
Bruce Arians Calls Out Robert Nkemdiche
- Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was frank in explaining why first-round defensive end Robert Nkemdiche was inactive for the club’s previous two games, telling Darren Urban of the team’s website, “Talent, not an issue. Maturity is. It’s just maturing.” Arians also took a shot at Nkemdiche’s work ethic (or lack thereof), saying that 2015 first-rounder D.J. Humphries – who was inactive his entire rookie season – put in more of an effort last year. Nkemdiche was a highly regarded talent at Ole Miss, but character concerns helped him fall to 29th in the draft, and several scouts opined beforehand that he’d bust in the pros. It’s early, but with just three appearances and one tackle thus far, Nkdemiche certainly hasn’t made those scouts eat their words.
Cardinals Designate Tyvon Branch For Return
In early October, both safety Tyvon Branch and running back Chris Johnson were placed on injured reserve with severe groin injuries. At the time, coach Bruce Arians indicated that it would be a race between the two to see who could get healthy first. It appears that Branch has won. 
Branch will come off IR and is on the field practicing today, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). The safety cannot play before Dec. 4 but he is on the path to return.
Branch appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and recorded 43 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed. The advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus placed Branch as the 30th best safety in the NFL last year, slotting him ahead of free agents like Chris Conte, Eric Weddle, and David Bruton. While he did not start in 2015, the Cardinals believed that he was capable of a larger role. Branch was shelved after just five games this year, but he’ll get the opportunity to rejoin the club for the final stretch of the season.
Because only one player can return from IR, Johnson’s season is through. In 2015, Johnson was surprisingly productive for Arizona before a fractured tibia ended his season early. He re-signed with the Cardinals in the spring where he was expected to be David Johnson‘s primary backup. His season ends with a grand total of 95 yards and one touchdown off of 28 carries.