The 2025 season hasn’t exactly gone to plan for the Chicago Bears, as they are 0-2 through two games and already getting hammered by the injury bug. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson suffered a groin injury in his regular-season debut last week against the Detroit Lions, and the initial reporting said he could be sidelined for the entire season.
However, there’s a chance Johnson might not be done for the 2025 season, giving Bears fans some hope in what has been a dismal start. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Johnson plans to fly to Philadelphia early this week to meet with a doctor, with core muscle surgery the likely outcome.
Rapoport adds that if Johnson has to get that surgery, he would have a chance to return during the second half of the regular season.
Bears Get Huge Jaylon Johnson Injury Update Ahead of Week 3 Game vs. Cowboys
On Saturday, the Bears placed the star cornerback on injured reserve, which means he’ll be sidelined at least for four games. The earliest he could return to the field is in Week 8.
No one knows what Chicago’s record will look like around that time, but for the fanbase, this is somewhat good news to look forward to. The Bears were hoping to have a healthy starting CB room to start this season, led by Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson.
Stevenson has thankfully remained healthy, but hasn’t played up to par as he’s had to assume the CB1 role for Johnson. Meanwhile, veteran Nahson Wright has stepped in as the Bears’ CB2.
As for Gordon, he’s been sidelined by a hamstring injury, but he’s considered week-to-week. The hope is he’s back sooner rather than later. Without Gordon manning the slot, the Bears put Nick McCloud into the starting lineup, which hasn't been ideal.
The Bears would’ve loved to have Johnson on the field for Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, as you could leave him on an island to cover CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens 1-on-1 throughout the game.
However, that’s not the reality for Chicago or defensive coordinator Dennis Allen heading into this must-win game. The Bears will have to trust that Stevenson and the rest of the guys in the secondary can hold down the fort and not give up big plays, while hoping Johnson can be back on the field in the coming weeks.