To say that this has been a tough season for Chicago Bears star cornerback Jaylon Johnson would be a massive understatement. He's barely been able to play because of injuries, and he hasn't been his usual self when he's been out there, leaving Bears fans concerned about his Windy City future.
That was especially evident in the loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. He failed to keep up with the Packers' speedy wideouts, and he seemed to be a step slow for most of the afternoon, allowing catches on both of his targets for 25 yards and a 118.8 passer rating. Fortunately, it seems like he's trending in the right direction.
According to a report by Zack Pearson of Bears Report, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said that "I think (Johnson is) getting closer and closer each week," which is just what they needed to hear ahead of their matchup with the Cleveland Browns.
What's interesting about Allen's remarks is that there isn't a lot of runway left in the season for Johnson to return to form. The playoffs will be here in less than a month, and if the veteran CB isn't healthy by then, it's going to be clear that the Bears brought him back too soon.
Bears Need The Old Jaylon Johnson Back
Johnson played only 17 snaps in coverage last week, further hinting that he still isn't 100%. Christian Watson kept running circles around him for most of the afternoon, and then Johnson didn't even seem to be too interested in tackling Josh Jacobs, who broke out for a 21-yard gain.
Still, he's a two-time Pro Bowler, so the lack of effort on the play may have been more related to his physical woes than to a lack of interest. He's only played in three games this season, and it might be a while before he gets his legs back under him.
Kyler Gordon's injury is another big blow for the secondary, and the ever-struggling Tyrique Stevenson is also dealing with an ailment. The Bears can't afford to have their best defensive back also be a liability.
Fortunately for him, a date with Shedeur Sanders and the Browns' erratic passing game might be just what he needs to get back on track. Sanders' decision-making has left plenty to be desired, and the Browns don't have much — if any – firepower in the wide receivers corps. That should be the perfect morale-boosting performance at a time of need.
The Bears can still win the division, and they're one of the main dark horses to make a deep postseason run. For that to happen, they will need Johnson to ramp things up and get back to his usual self sooner rather than later. But first, he needs to get healthier to even try.