Cardinals Place RB Chris Johnson & S Tyvon Branch On I.R., Cut P Drew Butler

The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday that they’ve placed RB Chris Johnson and S Tyvon Branch on injured reserve and cut P Drew Butler.

• The Cardinals also signed RB Kerwynn Williams and promoted QB Zac Dysert to their active roster.

Both Johnson and Branch will miss the next eight weeks of the season but the Cardinals have the ability to bring one of them back later on in the year.

Johnson, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Titans back in 2008. After six years in Tennessee, Johnson signed on with the Jets for the 2014 season before joining the Cardinals the following year.

Arizona elected to bring Johnson back on a one-year, $1.5 million contract this past March.

In 2016, Johnson has rushed for 95 yards on 25 carries (3.8 YPC) and scored one touchdown.

Branch, 29, is a former fourth-round pick of the Raiders back in 2008. He spent seven years in Oakland before joining the Chiefs for the 2016 season.

The Cardinals elected to sign Branch to a two-year, $10 million contract that included $5 million guaranteed this past March.

In 2016, Branch has appeared in four games for the Cardinals and recorded 23 tackles, no interceptions and two pass defenses.