Running back David Johnson takes part in OTAs on Wednesday morning.
One look at David Johnson, and it's clear he doesn't skip leg day. Or chest day. Or arm day.
The Cardinals' star running back is chiseled like a Greek god, and his myriad trips to the end zone are made possible by the countless hours he dedicates to the weight room.
"I'm a gym rat," Johnson said. "I love working out. I love training. Our lifting coaches always give me a hard time, telling me that I need to stop training some days and rest. That's tough for me."
While Johnson has no plans to ditch his weight room routine, this offseason he has implemented another, more subtle training tactic to his regimen.
The All-Pro recently picked up yoga, which he does at home with his wife, Meghan. It's not as splashy as bench-pressing 400-plus pounds or squatting 620, but Johnson believes it will improve his agility.
"Getting more flexible, really, is the big thing," Johnson said. "I'm so stiff, especially in my hips and in my hamstrings. I need to work on that."
Johnson has also taken a deeper look at his eating habits. He recently completed the Whole30 diet with Meghan, a program designed to give the body a healthy reset over a month-long span.
"That was harder than football," Johnson said. "Not eating any sugars or anything that has additives in it. Let me tell you, in America it is hard to find things that don't have sugar."
Johnson shook his head when told about Tom Brady's daily dedication to clean eating, commending the Patriots quarterback but not willing to go as far as committing to avocado ice cream and the like. However, he's certainly more cognizant of what is going in his body.
"We're just trying to stay healthy, eating a more balanced meal," Johnson said.
Johnson had a fantastic individual season in 2016, and the Cardinals would be pleased with a duplicate. However, the third-year running back wants more. It still bugs him that he fell short of 1,000 receiving yards last year, and he's taking direct aim at more dual-threat accomplishments in 2017.
Johnson hopes combining his previous preparation with his new regimen will pay off, especially in crunch time.
"I think the biggest thing is my legs don't fatigue so fast in the fourth quarter toward the end of the season," Johnson said. "I hope my legs stay fresh for as long as they can."
CARDINALS MAKE A ROSTER MOVE
The team signed rookie linebacker Mikey Bart to the 90-man roster. Defensive tackle Collin Blevins was waived/left the squad. Bart had 34 tackles and four sacks at North Carolina last season.
