Arizona Cardinals safety
Rashad Johnson said Monday that he lost the top of his left middle finger just above the knuckle during Sunday's loss to the
New Orleans Saints.
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Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesRashad Johnson prepares to tackle the Saints' Jimmy Graham on Sunday. The Cardinals safety lost the top part of his left middle finger on another play.
Johnson realized the significance of the injury when he pulled his hand out of his glove and the fingertip was still in it.
He underwent surgery Sunday night. Doctors shaved down the bone in the finger to prevent infection. There were no plans to reattach the finger, and Johnson's injury may take a few weeks to heal.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians left the door open for Johnson to play Sunday against
Tampa Bay.
"It's day to day," Arians said Monday. "It's just a matter of pain tolerance."
Johnson thinks the injury occurred just before halftime during a punt return by the Saints'
Darren Sproles. He is unsure how it happened and will watch game film Monday to try to get a better idea.
Johnson realized he was hurt when he looked down and saw blood coming out of his glove.
He tweeted about the injury Monday in a response to a question from a producer for "The Dan Patrick Show."
Paul Pabst @PaulPabst
How bad is it? Surgery? We are talking about you on the show today.
@49foyamind49
Rashad Johnson ✔ @49foyamind49
@PaulPabst lost top portion of it. Had exposed bone and skin shaved down yesterday and stitched up. Prob most painful injury I've had.
11:05 AM - 23 Sep 2013
Johnson was credited with three tackles in the Cardinals' 31-7 loss.
In other injury news, Cardinals starting outside linebackers
Sam Acho and
Lorenzo Alexander will miss the rest of the season with injuries sustained in Sunday's loss, Arians said Monday.
Acho has a broken fibula and Alexander is out with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot. Both will be placed on injured reserve.