National Football League

Mendenhall signs deal with Cardinals

Published Mar. 13, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Alex Marvez

A former Pittsburgh Steelers starting running back is expected to man that same position for the Arizona Cardinals.

Rashard Mendenhall has inked a one-year deal with the Cardinals. The news was reported Wednesday by his agent Mike McCarthy on Twitter (@MikeMcCartney7).

The signing came shortly after ex-Miami running back Reggie Bush signed a four-year contract with Detroit. The Cardinals reportedly had Bush on their free-agent wish list.

A 2008 first-round draft pick, Mendenhall rushed for 1,108 and 1,273 yards in 2009 and 2010 respectively. While he anchored Pittsburgh’s ground game, Mendenhall did lose a key fumble in Super Bowl XLV that helped spur Green Bay to victory.

Mendenhall, 25, gradually fell out of grace with the Steelers to the point he was a healthy scratch late last season. Mendenhall was even suspended for a game after he refused to stay for one contest after being declared inactive.

The Mendenhall signing fills the hole created by Tuesday’s release of running back Chris “Beanie” Wells, a 2009 first-round pick whose first four NFL seasons were marred by injuries. Mendenhall will now be reunited with Arizona head coach Bruce Arians, who was his offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh from 2008 to 2011.