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Former Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cardinals, his agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed to Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers.

According to Somers, Mendenhall, who turns 26 this summer, will compete with Ryan Williams and others for playing time.

The deal reunites Mendenhall with head coach Bruce Arians, who was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh in Mendenhall’s first four seasons.

Mendenhall is come off a couple of difficult seasons. He suffered a torn ACL at the end of 2011 and played in six games last season. The team suspended him for one game after he didn’t show up for a previous game because he was due to be inactive.

The Cardinals had an opening at running back after releasing Beanie Wells earlier this week. Indeed, the Cardinals released Wells with a major move in mind. LaRod Stephens-Howling is a free agent. Arizona reportedly also had interest in former Dolphins running back Reggie Bush, but he agreed to a four-year deal with the Lions.

As NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal suggested, it's a great move for the Cardinals and an interesting gambit by Mendenhall. He's betting on himself. Instead of taking a low-cost long-term deal, Mendenhall will hit free agency again in 2014.

Mendenhall knows Arians' system and he's a powerful runner who won't be asked to be a great receiver.

Fortunately, that's exactly what Arians wants.

Arians loves to air the ball out vertically, but this Cardinals offense may be built around the power running game. And that might give Mendenhall the opportunity to re-establish himself as a starting-caliber back.

Worth noting. ... The Broncos were also interested in acquiring Mendenhall, but Denver will have to look elsewhere to fill its running back needs.