The morning of David Johnson's first time in a game since he jacked up his wrist in the 2017 regular-season opener, Johnson tweeted out a message that included a personal hype video. "Seemed to have forgotten about me" is what it said.
After the way he played -- albeit in a preseason game, albeit just two snaps -- anyone who might have forgotten what David Johnson can do shouldn't have that problem anymore. He snapped off a 14-yard run on each of his two plays, runs that were wonderfully blocked but still showed off Johnson's skills. Oh, and it also reminded everyone that a good offensive line tends to help the cause.
The first play featured left guard Mike Iupati and center Mason Cole moving the nose tackle to the right, while left tackle D.J. Humphries turned the end outside. Fullback Derrick Coleman perfectly hammered the linebacker coming into the hole, and even wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald came in to make sure the cornerback was unable to make a play. Iupati got off his Cole help quick enough to then maul the linebacker on the second level.
On Johnson's second carry, this time with no fullback and two tight ends on the right, Cole and right guard Justin Pugh double-team the nose tackle. It's Johnson's ability that helps create a huge hole -- he moves right, into traffic behind right tackle Andre Smith and tight ends Ricky Seals-Jones and Gabe Holmes, making the linebacker believe he's headed off tackle. Then Johnson delivers one of his patented jump cuts back left, allowing Holmes to get perfect position on the block and giving Johnson a hole he could drive a truck through.
Cole looked solid in his place as a starting center. Iupati looked excellent, which is a good sign. And Johnson looked like the back who dominated in 2016. He hasn't even caught a pass yet, either.