Bears Suffer Huge Blow With Latest Jaylon Johnson Update

Jaylon Johnson’s offseason hasn’t been exactly what he or the Chicago Bears had hoped.

The bad news began when the Bears placed him on the active/non-football injury (NFI) list on July 19 after he sustained a leg injury during an independent training session. The injury din’t occur at the team’s facilities, which is why it qualified under the NFI designation.

While Chicago has kept specific details about the veteran cornerback’s injury under wraps, one prominent insider covering the team says Johnson’s leg issue is more serious than the Bears have been letting on.

During an August 5 appearance on Sports Mockery’s Bears Film Room, Da Bears Blog’s Jeff Hughes said he’s hearing “it’s a long shot” that Johnson will play Week 1.

Jaylon Johnson Injury Update: PUP List Isn’t Out of the Question

GettyBears cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s return from injury could be longer than initially expected.

 

According to DBB, we may not see Chicago’s best cover corner for the first few games of the regular season.

“The injury is more serious than they thought. I don’t think he’s going to touch the field at all until practice (leading up to) Week 1.” Hughes said, adding:

“They have certainly not ruled out (putting him on the) PUP list, missing the first couple weeks of the season. If he doesn’t get on the field at all this summer, that’s a likely outcome for him.”

If Johnson begins his 2025 campaign on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list, he’ll miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

“I would be very surprised if we see Jaylon Johnson in any real way the first couple weeks of the season,” Hughes added. “Supposedly it’s not a serious injury, but it’s serious enough to be 6-8 weeks from where we are now.”

When Johnson’s injury was initially announced, general manager Ryan Poles said that it wasn’t a long-term concern.

“When he was training, he had a leg injury. I’m not going to get into details of that,” Poles said on July 22. “It is going to take a few weeks before he can come back. We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back. I’m sure we’ll have updates as we go through training camp, but it’s going to take a little bit of time, but not overly concerned about long-term.”

Bears Will Miss Johnson in a Big Way

Since being drafted in the second round in 2020 out of Utah, Johnson has appeared in 70 games and started all of them, becoming the Bears’ top corner and one of the NFL’s best, as well.

He earned his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, followed by a second Pro Bowl nod in 2024. The Bears locked him up with a four-year, $76 million contract extension in March of 2024.

Through the end of the 2024 season, he has amassed 214 tackles, 49 pass breakups, seven interceptions and a defensive touchdown. When he’s healthy, the Bears can play more aggressive man coverage while freeing up their safeties to make plays over the top. When he’s not, Chicago is down it’s best cover corner.

Ultimately, Johnson’s value goes far beyond the stat sheet. He’s a steadying force in the secondary, a vocal leader and one of the few players on the Bears roster who can be trusted to shadow an opposing WR1. If he does begin the season on the PUP list, it’s going to be an early blow for the Bears.