Jaylon Johnson’s Injury Might Be Worse Than Bears Are Letting On

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, suffered a leg injury during offseason training and was placed on the active/non-football injury list when training camp opened in July. General Manager Ryan Poles initially projected a short recovery, suggesting Johnson would be back within a few weeks and downplaying any long-term concern. However, head coach Ben Johnson later said Week 1 is the target for his return, hinting that Johnson could miss most — if not all — of training camp.

While Johnson is currently rehabbing, his status remains unclear and could pose a challenge for the Bears defense. Jeff Hughes of DaBearsBlog shed more light on the situation during an appearance on Sports Mockery’s Bears Film Room podcast, expressing serious doubt that Johnson will be ready for the season opener. He said he’d be "shocked" if Johnson played Week 1 and doesn’t expect him to participate in training camp at all.

Hughes also mentioned there's a legitimate chance Johnson lands on the PUP list, which would sideline him for at least the first four games of the season. While he believes the Bears are being truthful in saying the injury isn’t severe or season-ending, he emphasized the recovery timeline may not be as optimistic as originally suggested. Johnson’s rehab will be something to monitor closely as the season approaches.

If you want all the inside scoops from training camp and what’s really going on at Halas Hall, be sure to check out the latest episode of Bears Film Room. You can watch the full episode below.