Lions batter Arizona, Johnson

DETROIT — David Johnson had a lot of eyes — and bodies — on him every time he touched the ball against the Detroit Lions.

Coming off a spectacular season, Arizona’s star running back was stunted and knocked out of the game with a wrist injury in a 35-23 loss Sunday.

Johnson led the league with 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns last year. In the season-opening game, he lost a fumble and was limited to 23 yards rushing on 11 carries, and had six receptions for 68 yards.

“We knew he was a huge target for them, big part of the offense,” Lions safety and former Lobo Glover Quin said. “So, we just wanted to make sure we knew where he was at all times and make sure we put bodies on him.

“Hit him, hit him, hit him, continue to hit him and see if he can take it for four quarters. And, we were able to get him out of the game.”

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians didn’t have an update on the condition of Johnson’s wrist or D.J. Humphries’ knee injury. Humphries, who moved from right to left tackle as part of a reshaped offensive line, was hurt early in the game, and that appeared to hinder the running and passing game.

Carson Palmer was 27 of 48 for 269 yards with three interceptions, one shy of his career high.

“He was hurrying in everything,” Arians said. “It was footwork, reading things too fast. Then, just accuracy killed him.”