Chicago Bears fans had to suffer watching cornerback Jaylon Johnson work through his soft-tissue injury last season, but 2026 doesn't sound like a year that will be the same as 2025.
Johnson is 100% healthy again and ready to role. Sure, he's been banged up a bit late in training camp, but the swagger is back in his game that Bears fans have been missing for awhile.
The 2026 campaign sounds more like a comeback story for Johnson. Chicago's coaching staff is starting to see that in him.
Bears are ready for Jaylon Johnson's redemption story in 2026
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen used his press conference to praise Johnson and the camp he had. Allen is starting to see the old Johnson he saw before last year's injury, both in person and on tape.
"I think his leadership has started to kind of come to the forefront a little bit, and that's needed," Allen said via CHGO. "We need him to play at a very high level for us to be successful. I think he understands that. I think he accepts that challenge. I think he's looking forward to it."
"I've seen a guy that's taken a step forward. I think he himself probably feels more like himself."
#Bears DC Dennis Allen on Jaylon Johnson: "I've seen a guy that's taken a step forward. I think he himself probably feels more like himself."
— Michal Dwojak (@mdwojak94) September 2, 2026
Last season, Johnson only played in seven games with the Bears. He finished with 17 tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception. He allowed a career-high completion percentage of 72.7%, with 16 of 22 targets toward him being completed.
This was a very different Johnson from what Bears fans saw in 2023 and 2024, when he made the Pro Bowl both seasons. In those seasons combined, he had 18 pass deflections, six interceptions, and allowed an average completion percentage of 60.6.
Johnson faces significant pressure entering the 2026 season. Kyler Gordon is injured, with no sign of when he'll return, and rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad could start in his place. It also doesn't help that safety Coby Bryant will likely miss most or all of the season with his injury.
Chicago's secondary isn't as strong this year as it was in 2025, and it still was a major weakness, finishing in the bottom 10 in pass defense last season. That means Johnson really needs to come into this season to bring the leadership and playmaking skills that have made him a Pro Bowler twice.
Read more: Position-by-position takeaways from Bears' initial 53-man roster reveal
All eyes will be on Johnson to see how he steps up and performs in 2026. If he can go back to his Pro Bowl form, watch out, because the Bears are going to be dangerous on defense again.
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