Although he had his first career 100-yard receiving game, the Cardinals lost their home opener 16-20. The next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hightower had 15 carries for 72-yards and scored his first touchdown of the season, helping his team win 31-17. On October 18, 2009, he ran for 32-yards on 13 carries and scored a rushing touchdown, while also accounting for 26-yards on 4 receptions in a 27-3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. In a Week 11 contest against the St. Louis Rams, Hightower carried the ball 14 times for 110 rushing yards as Arizona won 21-13. This was also his first career game with over 100 rushing yards. Although he remained the starter throughout the season, rookie Beanie Wells began to receive more carries as the season progressed. After finishing the season 10-6 the Cardinals were in the playoffs under head coach Ken Whisenhunt for the second consecutive season. In the NFC Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers, Hightower had only 7 carries for 19 yards but scored a touchdown as they won 51-45. The following week, he ran for 87 rushing yards on only 6 rushing attempts and scored a 70-yard rushing touchdown in a 14-45 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He finished the regular season with 143 carries, 598 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 63 receptions, 428 receiving yards, and had 5 fumbles. 2010 Hightower began the 2010 season returning as the Cardinals' starting running back ahead of Beanie Wells and Ryan Torain. In their 2010 regular season opener, he had 13 carries for 54 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also accounting for 4 catches for 40 receiving yards against the St. Louis Rams. The next week, as the Cardinals played at Atlanta, Hightower had 11 rushing attempts for 115 rushing yards and scored an 80-yard rushing touchdown in a 7-41 loss to the Falcons. On December 12, 2010, he ran for a career-high 148-yards against the Denver Broncos and scored 2 rushing touchdowns in the Cardinals' 43-13 victory. Hightower finished his last season with the Cardinals with a career-high 153 carries, a career-high 736 rushing yards, and scored 5 rushing touchdowns. Washington Redskins 2011 Hightower was traded on July 31, 2011 to the Washington Redskins in exchange for defensive end Vonnie Holliday and a sixth round draft pick in 2012. On August 4, 2011, the Washington Redskins signed him to a