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By RAFAEL ALVAREZ
Cronkite News

TEMPE — What many Cardinals fans feared appears to be true: Running back David Johnson will be out a significant amount of time.

Coach Bruce Arians told reporters Monday that Johnson suffered a dislocated wrist in Sunday’s 35-23 loss to the Detroit Lions. The timetable for Johnson’s recovery remains uncertain, and Arians said the team is awaiting a second opinion.

“The prognosis is the same as T.J. (Logan): dislocated wrist, that would probably require surgery,” Arians said. “It should be 24 hours before we know whether the second opinion is right or not.”

If Johnson’s injury is similar to that of fellow Cardinals running back Logan, Johnson could be out between eight to 12 weeks. That means Johnson would go on injured reserve with a possible return.

Johnson injured his wrist on the 24-yard reception that put the Cardinals in the Lions’ red zone during the third quarter, and not following Johnson’s second fumble, which occurred on his next carry. Johnson came off the field and said he could play, but later couldn’t and left the game, said Arians, who believes the injury contributed to Johnson’s second fumble.

Although the loss of Johnson stings, Arians said he is not panicked.

“It’s always a huge blow to lose your top player, but it’s not the end of the world,” Arians said. “We’ve got quality guys on our team. It’s an opportunity for somebody to step up. David Johnson became David Johnson because of somebody’s injury.”

That “somebody” is former Cardinals running back Chris Johnson, who the team released on Sept. 1. Bringing him back is an option, Arians said,

Shortly after Monday’s press conference, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals signed former Arizona State running back D.J. Foster off the New England Patriots practice squad and onto the Cardinals active roster.

Questions remain not just at the running back position but on the offensive line and the quarterback position as well. Arians said he was not pleased with the performances of quarterback Carson Palmer and offensive tackle John Wetzel, but is confident they will bounce back.

Wetzel stepped into Sunday’s game after starting left tackle D.J. Humphries left because of an MCL injury.

There was some good news. Humphries will only be out one to two weeks, said Arians, who was proud of the way his young guys performed.

“Our young players, on the positive side, played very very well,” Arians said. “Very pleased with all the young guys that got in and had a role. They’ll get their role expanded now because they were positive.”