Ja’Marr Chase had words for Bears CB Jaylon Johnson after joint practice

Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals participated in a joint practice with the Chicago Bears. Thursday’s session allowed the star wide receiver to see firsthand how good Jaylon Johnson is.

Chase was matched up with the cornerback, who made it a long afternoon for him. Johnson showed off his speed, strong hands and route reading, impressing the five-time Pro Bowler. Cincinnati and Chicago will clash on Saturday in a preseason game.

Chase recorded 125 receptions for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Johnson, on the other hand, was limited to just seven games due to a core muscle injury. He registered 15 total tackles and two pass deflections in 2025. The 27-year-old is now back to 100% and ready to contribute to the Bears’ secondary.

Chicago Bears Jaylon Johnson running onto the field.

Chicago Bears: Ja’Marr Chase praises Jaylon Johnson’s game

The two-time first-team All Pro spoke highly about Johnson’s skill set. Chase also highlighted some plays where Johnson shined, which included an impressive interception after a pass breakup.

“Real good corner,” Chase said. “Pretty aggressive on a couple plays.”

Jaylon Johnson had Ja’Marr Chase “fuming” after he didn’t see a ball come his way during team drills against the Bears, per @patrickfinley

“Real good corner. Pretty aggressive on a couple plays.” – Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase on Jaylon Johnson

CB1 pic.twitter.com/isYplzxrtO

— Bearsszn (@bearszn) August 20, 2026

Johnson aims to get back to his form from two seasons ago. He earned his second Pro Bowl selection in 2024 after amassing a career-high 53 combined tackles consisting of 11 assisted and 42 solo efforts.

The Bears will rely more on their secondary in the upcoming season, particularly the offense, to provide more opportunities to score. The team’s front office plugged holes at different positions as the franchise looks to achieve more success. Johnson will play a key role for Chicago to have a deeper playoff run.

Johnson and Co won the NFC North with an 11-6 record and only lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Chargers. They will commence their regular-season schedule on Sept. 13 versus the Carolina Panthers. Another preseason game follows the Bengals matchup as they are slated to face the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 29.