Bears two-time Pro Bowl CB out indefinitely with groin injury

Jaylon Johnson hasn't been able to stay on field in 2025

Johnson missed training camp as well as Chicago’s season opener while recovering from a groin injury. During the second quarter of the team’s blowout loss against the Lions, he reaggravated the ailment. As a result, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Courtney Cronin report Johnson is out indefinitely.

The full extent of the injury is unknown at this point. Surgery could be on the table, depending on what further testing reveals. In any event, losing Johnson for an extended stretch will deal a notable blow to the Bears defense. The unit struggled mightily with and without him on Sunday, and being short-handed in the secondary will be an unwelcome development as the team looks to recover from its 0-2 start.

Chicago Bears secondary looking thin with Jaylon Johnson injury

Johnson is in his sixth NFL season, each of which has come as a member of the Bears. The 26-year-old received the franchise tag last offseason to prevent a potential free-agent departure. Johnson later signed a four-year, $76M deal, ensuring his status as a foundational member of the team’s secondary. He earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod last season but missed considerable time during the summer in advance of the current campaign.

Johnson was activated from the PUP list during roster cutdowns, allowing him to return within the first four weeks of the season. The former second-rounder managed to do so, but after a brief spell on the field, he will be sidelined for a notable stretch. Slot corner Kyler Gordon— who landed a lucrative new deal this spring — has yet to play this year, so Johnson’s absence could be particularly troublesome if Gordon remains unavailable for Week 3.

Chicago allowed a fourth-quarter comeback against the Vikings in Week 1 before surrendering 52 points against the Lions on Sunday. Improvements on defense will be sought out over the coming weeks, and the team’s secondary will be a unit worth watching closely. Johnson will not be part of the Bears’ efforts to take a needed step forward for at least the time being, though.