The Chicago Bears no longer have to beg Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson to return. After fighting through a gauntlet of injuries starting in early September, he’s on the verge of a return. Johnson has been battling a variety of soft-tissue injuries since July. Consequently, he ended up missing all of preseason as well as the Bears’ season-opening matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. He took on his toughest challenge yet in the Week 2 loss to the Detroit Lions. He exited the game in the second quarter with a core muscle injury.
After experiencing the injury last week against the Lions, Johnson went into surgery and landed on injured reserve. His mood has brightened considerably in the last few weeks. The Bears have activated a 21-day practice window for Johnson, bringing him back into the fold during that time. After just under nine weeks since surgery, he was back on the practice field—in a limited capacity, of course.
Regardless, fans are already waiting with bated breath for Johnson’s triumphant return. He could be on the 53-man roster by as soon as before December 5th! If he successfully completes this transition, it could see him playing with a cast on his hand when he returns to the field. Head Coach Ben Johnson was optimistic about Miller’s progress and what his eventual return would mean to the team.
“I think he’s in a good spot right now, and I think being out on the grass is going to be a good thing for him.” – Ben Johnson
Yet it’s clear that the Bears have missed Johnson. They are focused on improving their game as they prepare to face their toughest competition on the horizon. Vikings head coach Ben Johnson underscored the importance of having those big guns firing.
“We could potentially have some reinforcements coming between when we get TJ back, when we get Jaylon back, when we get Kyler back,” – Ben Johnson
Bears’ coaching staff fully understands just how important it will be to get Johnson back on the field to execute their relentless defensive strategy. His skills and experience will contribute greatly to our members’ success, making our team even stronger. Specifically, they’ll guide the team through the rest of this trying season.
“Those are three guys going into the season you had a lot of high hopes for and what they could do,” said Ben Johnson. “I certainly had a tremendous amount of respect for all three of those guys competing against them the last few years. I’ll be excited when we get all three back on the field together.”
As Johnson continues his rehabilitation, Coach Johnson emphasized the importance of ensuring he is game-ready before returning to competitive play.
“We’ll see how long it’ll take to get him back in shape,” – Ben Johnson
Johnson’s most optimistic activation date possible would be two days from now. That’s just days before the Bears face off against their downstate historic rival, the Green Bay Packers. And players, coaches, teammates, and fans are all looking forward to seeing him back on the field again. His teammates must know how greatly he raises the level of their defense and their morale.
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