Bears Cornerback Jaylon Johnson Returns to Practice, Boosting Team's Championship Hopes
In a surprise move, the Chicago Bears opened the 21-day practice window for top cornerback Jaylon Johnson, allowing him to return from injured reserve after two months on the sidelines. Johnson was spotted on the field for his first practice in two months, a significant step forward for the team.
The 29-year-old corner has been out since Week 2 due to core muscle surgery, which initially threatened to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. However, with the Bears' next game against the Minnesota Vikings appearing unlikely, Johnson is said to be healthy and looking to get back in playing shape. Coach Ben Johnson praised his player, stating that being on the field will help Johnson progress.
The Bears have until December 7th to decide whether to activate Johnson from IR or declare him out for the season. If not ready by then but continuing to make strides, they can put him back on the active roster while holding him out of games as needed.
Johnson's return is a significant boost for the team, which has struggled with injuries throughout the year. The 25-year-old corner is widely regarded as one of the elite defenders in the NFL, capable of covering the opponent's best wide receiver every week. He made the Pro Bowl in his last two seasons, recording six interceptions, 18 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
The Bears' coaching staff has worked hard to get Johnson back on track, with coach Declan Doyle praising the left guard Joe Thuney as a major upgrade for the team's offense. Thuney, who was traded in the offseason, is a potential Hall of Famer and brings four Pro Bowl selections and four championship rings from his playing days.
Other injury updates include safety Jaquan Brisker returning to practice but still listed as questionable for the game against the Vikings, while linebacker T.J. Edwards will miss the matchup with a hamstring injury. The Bears are also optimistic about wide receiver Rome Odunze's ankle injury and tight end Cole Kmet's back issue.
The team is seeking momentum ahead of their next game, having accumulated 78 explosive plays – 44 runs of 10-plus yards and 34 passes of 20-plus yards. With Johnson back in the fold, the Bears are looking to ride the wave of improved performance from their coaching staff and key players like Thuney.
In a surprise move, the Chicago Bears opened the 21-day practice window for top cornerback Jaylon Johnson, allowing him to return from injured reserve after two months on the sidelines. Johnson was spotted on the field for his first practice in two months, a significant step forward for the team.
The 29-year-old corner has been out since Week 2 due to core muscle surgery, which initially threatened to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. However, with the Bears' next game against the Minnesota Vikings appearing unlikely, Johnson is said to be healthy and looking to get back in playing shape. Coach Ben Johnson praised his player, stating that being on the field will help Johnson progress.
The Bears have until December 7th to decide whether to activate Johnson from IR or declare him out for the season. If not ready by then but continuing to make strides, they can put him back on the active roster while holding him out of games as needed.
Johnson's return is a significant boost for the team, which has struggled with injuries throughout the year. The 25-year-old corner is widely regarded as one of the elite defenders in the NFL, capable of covering the opponent's best wide receiver every week. He made the Pro Bowl in his last two seasons, recording six interceptions, 18 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
The Bears' coaching staff has worked hard to get Johnson back on track, with coach Declan Doyle praising the left guard Joe Thuney as a major upgrade for the team's offense. Thuney, who was traded in the offseason, is a potential Hall of Famer and brings four Pro Bowl selections and four championship rings from his playing days.
Other injury updates include safety Jaquan Brisker returning to practice but still listed as questionable for the game against the Vikings, while linebacker T.J. Edwards will miss the matchup with a hamstring injury. The Bears are also optimistic about wide receiver Rome Odunze's ankle injury and tight end Cole Kmet's back issue.
The team is seeking momentum ahead of their next game, having accumulated 78 explosive plays – 44 runs of 10-plus yards and 34 passes of 20-plus yards. With Johnson back in the fold, the Bears are looking to ride the wave of improved performance from their coaching staff and key players like Thuney.
finally some good news for the Bears! 
It's about time they got Jaylon Johnson back on the field, that guy is a game-changer 
. Two months on IR is way too long to be missing out on games and now they're looking like legit contenders 
. Coach Ben Johnson's words are music to my ears when it comes to getting his players healthy again 
. Can't wait to see how he performs in the next few weeks, especially against the Vikings 
. And btw, Joe Thuney is a total beast on the field, can't believe they traded for him 
. Let's get this win streak going and make some noise in the playoffs 
!
they're bringing back jaylon johnson and i'm pretty sure he's gonna single-handedly bring home that championship trophy 
like his comeback is literally giving me all the feels 
I was worried he wouldn't make it for the season but coach Ben said he's looking good 
he's been out for too long and the team really needs him now that they're on a hot streak 
I'm thinking 10th seed or maybe even higher 
And what's with the 21-day practice window? That feels way too short to me. Two months out and now he's back on the field in two weeks? 
On the other hand, having Jaylon back could give them the boost they need to get over that hump and win some games. But, like, what about Jaquan Brisker's injury status? 
If he can't play against the Vikings, it's gonna be a major blow... wait, no, I mean if he does play, that'll be awesome! 
Ugh, my mind is all over the place with this one...
He's been out for like 2 months but it looks like he's making progress & getting back on the field ASAP! 
after being out for so long! I was worried he'd be out for the whole season 
. This is huge for the Bears, they need a boost like this to turn things around. Thuney looks like a total game-changer at left guard 
and then there's the physical toll it takes on their bodies... core muscle surgery is no joke 
. he's one of the best corners in the nfl, and having him back on the field is going to make their defense a whole lot more solid 
.
. fingers crossed for a solid season finale! 
. Fingers crossed he stays healthy and makes it back into the starting lineup soon!