Last season was not a bright spot for the Chicago Bears' secondary due to all the injuries they suffered as a group, but things should back on track in 2026.
One of the tough injuries the Bears dealt with was cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who missed 10 games with a lower leg injury in 2025. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler talked to multiple league executives, coaches, and scouts who shared their top 10 cornerbacks. Johnson did not make the top 10, but was an honorable mention.
"Time on task has been an issue. He missed a lot of camp and game action. But he's young (27), so he should be able to get back to his top form. He's got juice when he's full tilt."
Jaylon Johnson has a chance to get back into top 10 after 2026 season
Last year was an off year for Johnson overall, as he struggled with injury and then was not able to get back into rhythm after returning. He finished with 17 tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception in seven games, but allowed a career-high 72.7% completion percentage in coverage.
Bears fans know that Johnson is going to put up a better performance after making the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2024. Before last year, he was considered one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL, so the fact that he was still in the conversation speaks volumes about how the league feels about him.
The good news is that Johnson appears to be on the right track to being the same cornerback he was two years ago. Reports from OTAs shared that Johnson was able to make great plays, including picking off quarterback Caleb Williams.
Johnson is going to be a massive piece of the Bears' defense in 2026, with the franchise already having injury concerns in the secondary. Kyler Gordon was the other big name injured at corner, and things have not gotten better, as he is still dealing with his soft tissue injury. Gordon may not be ready to go by training camp, leaving even more concerns in the secondary.
Read more: Bears defender has last chance to make good first impression at training camp
Chicago is in for a big 2026 season where they need to take the next step from their NFC Divisional Round appearance. If the Bears want to take the leap to the Super Bowl, Johnson will have to return to Pro Bowl form and get them there.
Add us as a preferred source on Google