Bears’ Ben Johnson becomes latest to join Jaylon Johnson hype train

The Chicago Bears defense has gotten plenty of flack leading up to Week 1. But if Jaylon Johnson can return to form, the franchise would at least have a dynamic playmaker in their secondary.

The cornerback is coming off of a 2025 season that was marred by a lingering groin injury. But in 2023 and 2024, he was a Pro Bowler. Now fully past his injuries, the Bears are at least expecting him to bounce back come 2026.

Over his six years total in Chicago, Johnson has put up 231 tackles, 51 passes defended and eight touchdowns. While the Bears have questions in their cornerback room, Johnson – when healthy – isn’t one of them.

All offseason, the cornerback has gotten endorsements from teammates to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Now, head coach Ben Johnson has boarded the hype train.

Ben Johnson believes in Bears’ Jaylon Johnson

The Chicago Bears will be without Jaylon Johnson indefinitely. — NFL: Chicago Bears Minicamp Jun 3, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) warms up during minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Johnson came away with how the Bears closed out their training camp. Amongst the standouts in the head coach’s eyes was the cornerback who shares his last name.

“He’s one of those guys that ended camp really strong,” the head coach said. “That second half of camp, you could feel his presence more. He’s always been really cerebral, he’s a smart player. He’s smart in the meeting rooms as well. Deliberate with what he does. I could feel a fire lit under him, I don’t know what it was. You could really feel it ignite the back half of training camp. From my perspective, we’ve got a player who has a chance to be playing his best football this year. ”

During the 2025 season, Chicago ranked 22nd in pass defense, allowing 227.2 yards per game. With a healthy Johnson at their disposal, the Bears are expecting to rise up the standings. With all the questions in the pass rush, a strong secondary will be crucial for defensive success.

Johnson has earned the trust of his head coach. Now, it’s up to him to prove he remains one of the better cornerbacks in the league.

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