ESPN: Bears CB Jaylon Johnson is a top 10 player at his position

It represents a significant climb up the rankings for Johnson, who finished unranked in ESPN's positional poll last season. Johnson finished as high as No. 4 for one voter, though his median finish earned him the eighth overall spot.

"Competitive corner with man traits and excellent zone vision," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "Physical in press and fluid at the break point. Showed more ball production last year. Only thing he lacks is top-end recovery speed."

Johnson earned his spot. The former Utah standout allowed 33 receptions on 57 targets for 286 yards and one touchdown while recording four interceptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Johnson was an elite shutdown corner that produced a 17.5% ball-hawk rate.

"No cornerback was hotter in the second half of the season," ESPN wrote. "He was probably Chicago's best overall player. It was a good thing the Bears didn't trade him at the deadline as he requested."

The Bears rewarded Johnson's standout 2023 campaign by signing him to a four-year, $76 million contract extension earlier this offseason. It was a fair contract for the Bears. Johnson is currently the eighth-highest paid cornerback in the league annually at $19 million, according to Over The Cap. The overall value of $76 million also ranks eighth among all cornerbacks.

Johnson was Pro Football Focus" highest-graded cornerback with a coverage score of 90.8. He'll play for a new defensive coordinator this season in Eric Washington. Johnson will spearhead a talented Bears secondary that also features \x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\x3Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Execs, scouts, coaches rank Top 10 cornerbacks:\x3Cbr>\x3Cbr>*Denzel Ward, L'Jarius Sneed make huge jumps\x3Cbr>*Sauce Gardner polarizing -- some view as best, others kept out of top 10 altogether\x3Cbr>*Young stars taking out established vets\x3Ca href=\"https://t.co/mUlQWnUQli\">https://t.co/mUlQWnUQli\x3C/a>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) \x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1813926785626833063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2024\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>\"Competitive corner with man traits and excellent zone vision,\" an NFL personnel evaluator \x3Ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/40284094/top-10-nfl-cornerbacks-execs-scouts-2024-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said\x3C/a>. \"Physical in press and fluid at the break point. Showed more ball production last year. Only thing he lacks is top-end recovery speed.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson earned his spot. The former Utah standout allowed 33 receptions on 57 targets for 286 yards and one touchdown while recording four interceptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Johnson was an elite shutdown corner that produced a 17.5% ball-hawk rate.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"No cornerback was hotter in the second half of the season,\" ESPN \x3Ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/40284094/top-10-nfl-cornerbacks-execs-scouts-2024-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote\x3C/a>. \"He was probably Chicago's best overall player. It was a good thing the Bears didn't trade him at the deadline as he requested.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears rewarded Johnson's standout 2023 campaign by signing him to a four-year, $76 million contract extension earlier this offseason. It was a fair contract for the Bears. Johnson is currently the eighth-highest paid cornerback in the league annually at $19 million, according to \x3Ca href=\"https://overthecap.com/position/cornerback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Over The Cap\x3C/a>. The overall value of $76 million also ranks eighth among all cornerbacks.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson was \x3Ca href=\"https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jaylon-johnson/56259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Football Focus\x3C/a>\" highest-graded cornerback with a coverage score of 90.8. He'll play for a new defensive coordinator this season in Eric Washington. Johnson will spearhead a talented Bears secondary that also features \x3Ca href='https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/05/29/chicago-bears-2024-nfl-season-tyrique-stevenson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrique Stevenson\x3C/a>, \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/03/11/chicago-bears-signing-kevin-byard-nfl-free-agency-a-good-idea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Byard\x3C/a>, Jaquan Brisker, and \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/06/13/chicago-bears-cb-kyler-gordon-breakout-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyler Gordon\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was named a top 10 player at his position by ESPN on Thursday morning",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/jaylon-johnson-original.jpg",photo_credit:"Michael Reaves/Getty Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Justin Melo",author_gravatar_hash:"3db2d799cf003653055acaf8b5418622",author_avatar_url:null,category_names:$R[14]=["News"],tags:$R[15]=["chicago-bears","jaylon-johnson","news","nfl"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1,linkedContent:"\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">ESPN has been releasing their top 10 lists at every NFL position ahead of training camp marking its return at all 32 facilities. The cornerbacks list was released on Thursday morning. Chicago Bears superstar cornerback \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/06/17/nfl-chicago-bears-jaylon-johnson-primed-for-big-year-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylon Johnson\x3C/a> claimed the No. 8 spot in a league-wide poll consisting of execs, coaches, and scouts.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It represents a significant climb up the rankings for Johnson, who finished unranked in ESPN's positional poll last season. Johnson finished as high as No. 4 for one voter, though his median finish earned him the eighth overall spot.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\x3Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Execs, scouts, coaches rank Top 10 cornerbacks:\x3Cbr>\x3Cbr>*Denzel Ward, L'Jarius Sneed make huge jumps\x3Cbr>*Sauce Gardner polarizing -- some view as best, others kept out of top 10 altogether\x3Cbr>*Young stars taking out established vets\x3Ca href=\"https://t.co/mUlQWnUQli\">https://t.co/mUlQWnUQli\x3C/a>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) \x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1813926785626833063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2024\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>\"Competitive corner with man traits and excellent zone vision,\" an NFL personnel evaluator \x3Ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/40284094/top-10-nfl-cornerbacks-execs-scouts-2024-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said\x3C/a>. \"Physical in press and fluid at the break point. Showed more ball production last year. Only thing he lacks is top-end recovery speed.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson earned his spot. The former Utah standout allowed 33 receptions on 57 targets for 286 yards and one touchdown while recording four interceptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Johnson was an elite shutdown corner that produced a 17.5% ball-hawk rate.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"No cornerback was hotter in the second half of the season,\" ESPN \x3Ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/40284094/top-10-nfl-cornerbacks-execs-scouts-2024-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote\x3C/a>. \"He was probably Chicago's best overall player. It was a good thing the Bears didn't trade him at the deadline as he requested.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears rewarded Johnson's standout 2023 campaign by signing him to a four-year, $76 million contract extension earlier this offseason. It was a fair contract for the Bears. Johnson is currently the eighth-highest paid cornerback in the league annually at $19 million, according to \x3Ca href=\"https://overthecap.com/position/cornerback\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Over The Cap\x3C/a>. The overall value of $76 million also ranks eighth among all cornerbacks.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson was \x3Ca href=\"https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jaylon-johnson/56259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Football Focus\x3C/a>\" highest-graded cornerback with a coverage score of 90.8. He'll play for a new defensive coordinator this season in Eric Washington. Johnson will spearhead a talented Bears secondary that also features \x3Ca href='https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/05/29/chicago-bears-2024-nfl-season-tyrique-stevenson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrique Stevenson\x3C/a>, \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/03/11/chicago-bears-signing-kevin-byard-nfl-free-agency-a-good-idea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Byard\x3C/a>, Jaquan Brisker, and \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/06/13/chicago-bears-cb-kyler-gordon-breakout-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyler Gordon\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"785f43c9-c721-4770-a81f-0e11f00775b8",wp_post_id:100000000109,title:"Ben Johnson's latest Bears left tackle update raises concern with Week 1 approaching",slug:"chicago-bears-left-tackle-starter-ben-johnson-week-1-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/25",published_at:"2026-08-25T17:46:44.61+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-25T17:46:44.61+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have one preseason game remaining, and Ben Johnson still doesn't know who will protect Caleb Williams' blind side when the regular season begins.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson acknowledged Tuesday that left tackle remains one of the Bears' biggest unresolved issues, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/BradBiggs/status/2092301694990270466?s=20\">according to Brad Biggs of the \x3Cem>Chicago Tribune\x3C/em>\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"It's a hot spot for us,\" Johnson said of the position, adding that the Bears are not 100% sold on who will start at left tackle in Week 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago has spent essentially the entire summer searching for an answer, and while Braxton Jones recently appeared to move into the lead, Johnson isn't quite ready to declare the competition over.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785160339180-lj9sqf.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTE2MDMzOTE4MC1sajlzcWYud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODUxNjAzMzksImV4cCI6MjEwMDUyMDMzOX0.FiUS30Q_IiwJFyKmamG_rP-TKWMN1wYonwHmOwVqcoI\" alt=\"Braxton Jones\">\x3Ch2>Braxton Jones hasn't secured Bears' left tackle job\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jones returned to first-team left tackle duties last week, with Theo Benedet moving to the second team. Johnson said at the time that the competition remained \"wide open.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Saturday's preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals didn't provide Jones with the statement performance he needed.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jones started with the first-team offense but was called for holding on Chicago's opening possession. The penalty erased a Roschon Johnson run that would have given the Bears first-and-goal from the Cincinnati 7-yard line. Instead, the drive stalled and ended with a Cairo Santos field goal.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That one penalty won't determine the competition, but it didn't help Jones seize a job that remains unsettled. His struggles against power rushers didn't help, either.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Consistency is what Johnson is looking for. Earlier in camp, the Bears coach said he wanted to identify the tackle who could most consistently handle defensive ends one-on-one and execute the backside responsibilities in Chicago's wide-zone running game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>So far, no good.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears have a big few days ahead at left tackle\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jones and Benedet have emerged as the primary contenders recently, while Jedrick Wills Jr. and Kiran Amegadjie were moved to the right side after Johnson reshuffled the competition. Ozzy Trapilo's remarkable recovery has added another variable, although it's unclear whether Trapilo is \x3Cem>really\x3C/em> in the competition yet.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>I'd expect the 2025 second-round pick to emerge sometime closer to the end of September.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears close the preseason against the Tennessee Titans, giving Johnson one final opportunity to evaluate his options before the season kicks off for real against the Carolina Panthers on September 13.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's offensive line otherwise has plenty of stability. Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright are fantastic, and Garrett Bradbury is a solid addition after Drew Dalman's sudden retirement.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Unfortunately, left tackle remains the big question.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson calling the position a \"hot spot\" this close to the regular season makes one thing clear: Braxton Jones may be leading the competition, but he hasn't won it.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Ben Johnson says the Chicago Bears still aren't sold on their starting left tackle, leaving a critical competition unresolved with Week 1 approaching.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786032756275-c9bxx0.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjAzMjc1NjI3NS1jOWJ4eDAud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYwMzI3NTcsImV4cCI6MjEwMTM5Mjc1N30.k7Bo8voVXs7-9zAI9yY-m59cL-KOaUsMJrN1vnhYQVA",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-25T17:38:23.078636+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=["braxton jones","chicago bears","ozzy trapilo"],meta_title:"Bears still haven't settled crucial Week 1 starting job",meta_description:"Ben Johnson says the Chicago Bears still aren't sold on their starting left tackle, leaving a critical competition unresolved with Week 1 approaching.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!0},$R[20]={id:"61967652-dbb2-4f26-9fe2-4ed02f28d289",wp_post_id:100000000108,title:"Bears projected to take a step back in 2026 despite Caleb Williams-led offense",slug:"chicago-bears-projected-wins-2026-the-athletic",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/25",published_at:"2026-08-25T15:26:45.44+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-25T15:26:45.44+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>Expectations surrounding the Chicago Bears have changed dramatically in one year. After an 11-win season, an NFC North championship, and a playoff victory in Ben Johnson's first season, Chicago enters 2026 facing a different question. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's no longer whether the Bears are capable of contending for a playoff spot. It's whether they're ready to make the jump from playoff team to legitimate Super Bowl contender.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Athletic isn't quite ready to put them there.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7532934/2026/08/25/nfl-2026-win-totals-projections-analysis/\">In its projections for every NFL team's 2026 win total\x3C/a>, The Athletic projects the Bears for 9.6 victories and labels that number \"just right.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kevin Fishbain's assessment essentially divides the Bears into two categories: an offense that has significantly raised Chicago's floor and a defense that could determine just how high the ceiling goes.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson give Bears a high floor\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The strongest argument for another successful Bears season starts with Johnson and Caleb Williams.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams duo with this offensive line and skill players has raised the floor in Chicago,\" Fishbain wrote.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's the reality entering Year 2 of Johnson's offense. Chicago isn't hoping Williams suddenly becomes a franchise quarterback or wondering whether Johnson's system will translate. The Bears already won 11 games last season and captured the North.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now they return Williams with an offense featuring D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in the backfield, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III at receiver, and Colston Loveland at tight end.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The offensive line could be the team's biggest strength, too. Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright return, while Garrett Bradbury has taken over for the retired Drew Dalman at center.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's why Fishbain considers a significant Bears collapse unlikely, writing that \"winning fewer than eight games seems unlikely.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The real issue is whether the defense prevents Chicago from getting back to 11 wins, or exceeding that total.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears defense is keeping expectations in check\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The only thing holding the Bears back in 2026 is the defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago has already lost safety Coby Bryant for an extended period following knee surgery. Kyler Gordon's status remains uncertain as he works his way back, creating additional questions in the secondary.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And, uh, there's no pass rush.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That was already one of Chicago's biggest concerns entering the offseason, and nothing about the preseason has completely eliminated it. The Bears recently added veteran Marcus Davenport, while young defensive linemen Jordan van den Berg and Jamree Kromah have provided encouraging flashes.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The defensive questions — from health to pass rush — lower the ceiling,\" Fishbain wrote.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's probably the best way to frame the 2026 Bears. The offense provides enough stability that another disastrous season would be surprising. But the defensive front and secondary have enough uncertainty to make projecting another NFC North championship difficult.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Are the Bears better than a 9.6-win team?\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>A 9.6-win expectation represents a noticeable step backward from Chicago's 11-6 record last season. That doesn't necessarily mean The Athletic believes the Bears themselves have regressed. Win projections account for the difficulty of reproducing the results of a previous season, and Chicago enters 2026 with significantly higher expectations than it did one year ago.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Still, anything around nine or 10 victories would probably feel somewhat disappointing after what Johnson and Williams accomplished in Year 1 together.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears shouldn't be viewed as a finished product. Fishbain believes they're \"probably another playoff appearance away\" from joining the NFL's upper tier of Super Bowl contenders. And that's fair.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the offense also gives Chicago a chance to accelerate that timeline.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If Williams makes another Year 2 jump in Johnson's system, Odunze, Burden and Loveland develop as expected, and the offensive line remains one of the league's better units, the Bears could have one of the NFC's most dangerous offenses.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Then everything comes back to the defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If Dennis Allen can generate a more consistent pass rush and Chicago survives its early secondary injuries, 9.6 wins could ultimately look conservative.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Athletic projects the Bears for 9.6 wins after an 11-win season, with Chicago's defensive concerns keeping expectations in check.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786551314954-mwsweq.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjU1MTMxNDk1NC1td3N3ZXEud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODY1NTEzMTUsImV4cCI6MjEwMTkxMTMxNX0.SLoB9hSqouNeklW_-t3mVqYOHcHwYryksFB3w900cvA",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-25T15:11:53.144214+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=["2026 nfl season","chicago bears","season predictions","win total"],meta_title:"The Athletic's Bears 2026 win projection raises questions",meta_description:"The Athletic projects the Chicago Bears for 9.6 wins after an 11-win season, with Chicago's defensive concerns keeping expectations for 2026 in check.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"chicago bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[23]={id:"0fcafd9a-d939-4778-9feb-01dca1e71998",wp_post_id:100000000107,title:"Bears unveil bold new Nike Rivalries uniform for Christmas Day vs. Packers",slug:"chicago-bears-nike-rivalries-uniform-2026-packers",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/25",published_at:"2026-08-25T14:19:02.643+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-25T14:19:02.643+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are getting a new look for one of the biggest games on their 2026 schedule.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears officially unveiled their Nike Rivalries uniform Tuesday morning, a new alternate look that will make its on-field debut when Chicago hosts the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Christmas Day. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>The uniform is part of the NFL and Nike's four-year Rivalries program, which debuted in 2025 and expands to the NFC North and AFC South this season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And while Nike and the Bears went in a new direction, they didn't stray far from the franchise's identity.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears Rivalries jersey puts a twist on classic navy\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The jersey remains navy, but features orange numbers outlined in white with a numeral design inspired by Chicago's 1948 uniforms. The sleeves provide one of the biggest departures from the Bears' normal look. Rather than the familiar horizontal striping, the Rivalries jersey uses vertical stripes as a modern interpretation of the three-stripe design that has been associated with Bears uniforms since the early 1930s.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The jersey also features a replica of the \"GSH\" patch worn by the Bears in 1983 following the death of franchise founder George Halas. A \"Monsters of the Midway\" inscription is stitched inside the collar as another nod to the franchise's history.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The design also incorporates a connection to the University of Illinois, Halas' alma mater.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"We are excited to unveil our Nike Rivalries uniform,\" \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-unveil-rivalries-uniform\">Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said\x3C/a>. \"In collaboration with Nike, the Chicago Bears brand creative team designed a uniform that honors our storied tradition and recognizes the Chicagoland area, which we are grateful to represent.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787667412820-sd5kwc.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzY2NzQxMjgyMC1zZDVrd2Mud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc2Njc0MTMsImV4cCI6MjEwMzAyNzQxM30.RYCKLnGrdwuL7xKFRKKJR4ztw_zdaKnV6HLIHgrSNkk\" alt=\"Caleb Williams altenrate jersey\">\x3Cp>Photo: ChicagoBears.com\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Orange Bears helmet completes the look\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The helmet may be the most noticeable element of the entire uniform.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago will wear an \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-unveil-rivalries-uniform\">orange helmet with a navy \"C\" outlined in white\x3C/a>. The front bumper features an updated \"BEARS\" wordmark, while the rear bumper displays the four six-pointed stars from the Chicago flag.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears will pair the jersey and helmet with orange pants featuring navy and white vertical striping.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's a significantly different look without abandoning the colors and historical elements that make a Bears uniform immediately recognizable.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears picked perfect game to debut Rivalries uniforms\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>If the Bears were going to wear a uniform designed around the franchise's history, there probably wasn't a better opponent for its debut.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago will wear the Rivalries uniform against Green Bay on Dec. 25 at Soldier Field, turning the Bears-Packers rivalry into the centerpiece of the uniform's introduction. The Christmas matchup had already been designated as Chicago's official \"Rivalries\" game when the Bears announced their 2026 home-game themes.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago has five scheduled primetime games and two additional standalone games, and this season marks the first time in franchise history the Bears are scheduled to play on both Thanksgiving and Christmas.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now they'll have a completely different look for the latter.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Rivalries concept could easily have resulted in something that felt disconnected from Bears tradition. Instead, Chicago and Nike leaned heavily into it: Halas, the Monsters of the Midway, the 1948 number font, traditional navy and orange, and the city itself.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Whether fans love the orange-heavy finished product will undoubtedly become its own debate.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears revealed their new Nike Rivalries uniform, complete with an orange helmet and several historic Chicago touches for Christmas Day against Green Bay.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787667468412-zdqz4v.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzY2NzQ2ODQxMi16ZHF6NHYud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc2Njc0NjksImV4cCI6MjEwMzAyNzQ2OX0.8y4varwIVdBA4a_OtTChtiKYPEMb5w_Tab4PFlMWd_I",photo_credit:"ChicagoBears.com",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-25T14:11:08.313003+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=["alternate jerseys","chicago bears"],meta_title:"Bears unveil 2026 Nike Rivalries jersey vs. Packers",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears are getting a new look for one of the biggest games on their 2026 schedule. The Bears officially unveiled their Nike Rivalries uniform…",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"57c6217b-5f93-40e7-a0cb-37db390ec98b",wp_post_id:100000000106,title:"Bears' highest PFF grades on defense highlight 5 players making a late roster push",slug:"bears-pff-grades-defense-bengals-preseason-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T17:39:34.072+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T17:39:34.072+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears' defense didn't have a particularly memorable night in Saturday's 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but several individual performances stood out in \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/nfl/teams/2026/PRE/chicago-bears/schedule\">Pro Football Focus' grading\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And some of the best grades belonged to players who desperately needed them.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With final roster cuts approaching, Skyler Thomas, Deantre Prince, Jordan van den Berg and Jamree Kromah were among the Bears defenders who strengthened their cases against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For this ranking, we're using a minimum of 15 defensive snaps. That removes the distortion caused by players such as Jaylon Johnson, Gervon Dexter, and Montez Sweat earning strong grades over only a handful of snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are the Bears' five highest-graded qualifying defenders:\x3C/p>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Skyler Thomas — 88.1\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Deantre Prince — 83.4\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jordan van den Berg — 83.2\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Wayne Matthews III — 79.5\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jamree Kromah — 76.9\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Ch2>Skyler Thomas leads Bears defense with 88.1 PFF grade\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Thomas picked an ideal time to produce his best preseason performance. The young defensive back earned an 88.1 overall PFF grade across 31 defensive snaps, easily the best mark among Bears defenders who met our 15-snap threshold. His 84.1 coverage grade was particularly impressive.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Thomas also produced one of the few highlights for Chicago's defense when he intercepted Sean Clifford in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with two tackles and the interception.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's secondary has been hit hard by injuries, and Thomas is fighting to convince Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles that he deserves one of the final spots on the 53-man roster. An 88.1 PFF grade certainly helps.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Deantre Prince makes strong first impression\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Deantre Prince hasn't been with the Bears for long, but PFF liked what it saw against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The 25-year-old cornerback played 22 defensive snaps and earned an 83.4 overall grade, including an 81.2 coverage grade. He allowed no receptions on two targets.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Prince doesn't have much time to separate himself, making every preseason rep especially important. His first extended opportunity was encouraging.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Jordan van den Berg keeps making his case\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jordan van den Berg's hot summer continues to get more interesting.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The rookie defensive tackle earned an 83.2 overall grade across 33 snaps, placing him third among qualifying Bears defenders.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF gave van den Berg an 80.0 pass-rush grade; he also recorded two quarterback hurries in the grading data provided. In other words, he's exactly what the Bears need from the interior of the defensive line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There was one glaring negative: his 29.8 tackling grade was easily his lowest mark of the night.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Still, the larger trend remains encouraging. Van den Berg has steadily worked his way into the Bears' defensive-line conversation throughout training camp,and there's a chance he's a full-time starter early in his rookie year.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For a sixth-round pick who entered camp fighting for a roster spot, van den Berg continues to play like one of this year's biggest NFL draft steals.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Wayne Matthews III dominates against the run\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Rookie linebacker Wayne Matthews III didn't generate the same attention during the game, but his PFF grades demand another look. Matthews earned a 79.5 overall grade across 31 defensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His 90.2 run-defense grade was the most impressive number, especially for a defense that's been routinely sliced in the run game in recent years.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Matthews is battling for a depth role in a linebacker room that already has several established options ahead of him. That means his path to the roster remains difficult and will likely require special-teams contributions.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the undrafted rookie put up good tape against the Bengals and will force Chicago's coaching staff to take a closer look at his role.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Jamree Kromah continues his impressive preseason\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jamree Kromah isn't going away. After being one of Chicago's biggest defensive standouts against Cleveland, Kromah followed it with another strong PFF performance against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He earned a 76.9 overall grade across 38 defensive snaps, giving him the largest workload of any player in the Bears' qualifying top five. Kromah also received a 75.8 pass-rush grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kromah's strong preseason opener put him on the radar. Following it with another quality performance suggests his emergence deserves to be taken seriously.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have difficult decisions coming along the defensive line, but Kromah is doing everything he can to make sure he's part of the final 53.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Several Bears starters graded well in limited action\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The 15-snap minimum leaves several notable Bears defenders outside our primary rankings.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jaylon Johnson earned a 75.3 overall grade, but played only 14 snaps. D'Marco Jackson posted a 74.8, also on 14 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Gervon Dexter earned a 74.4 grade on 14 snaps, including an impressive 90.0 pass-rush grade. Montez Sweat finished at 71.5 over 10 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman also received a 70.1 overall grade across 14 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those are encouraging numbers, but the samples are too small to compare directly with players who were on the field for 20, 30 or nearly 40 defensive snaps.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Skyler Thomas led the Bears' defensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while several young defenders strengthened their cases before final roster cuts.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787593012650-r87vo5.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU5MzAxMjY1MC1yODd2bzUud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1OTMwMTMsImV4cCI6MjEwMjk1MzAxM30.oLrUUs6B0u4JdwR1nbYzvjK-eOYJSJ_YIuOKbnqJZZI",photo_credit:" IMAGN IMAGES ",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T17:23:56.51436+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=["2026 NFL preseason","chicago bears","grades","pff grades"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears' top PFF grades on defense vs. Bengals",meta_description:"Skyler Thomas led the Chicago Bears' defensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while several young defenders strengthened their cases before final roster cuts.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:4,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"44f1cdf9-256f-492a-a906-39052f191a00",wp_post_id:100000000105,title:"Bears' highest PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals produce unexpected standouts",slug:"chicago-bears-pff-grades-offense-bengals-preseason-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T17:22:41.636+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T17:22:41.636+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears didn't have many reasons to feel good about their 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. But \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/nfl/teams/2026/PRE/chicago-bears/schedule\">Pro Football Focus' grades\x3C/a> from Saturday night identified several individual performances worth paying attention to, and some of the highest marks belonged to players fighting for jobs.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>To avoid overreacting to tiny samples, I'm using a minimum threshold of 15 offensive or defensive snaps when identifying Chicago's highest-graded players. That eliminates players such as Darnell Wright and Colston Loveland, who graded extremely well but played fewer than 10 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With that qualifier in place, wide receiver Maurice Alexander was Chicago's highest-graded offensive player, while defensive back Skyler Thomas led the defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And both performances matter with final roster cuts approaching.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears' highest PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Among Bears who played at least 15 offensive snaps, these were the five highest PFF grades:\x3C/p>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Maurice Alexander: 87.3\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>JP Richardson: 74.3\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Sam Roush: 69.7\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Roschon Johnson: 69.1\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Mason Murphy: 68.0\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Ch3>Maurice Alexander strengthens his roster case\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Alexander's 87.3 overall grade wasn't just the best among qualifying Bears offensive players. It was \x3Cem>easily\x3C/em> the best.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF also gave him an 84.2 receiving grade across 25 offensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Alexander caught all five of his targets for a team-high 60 yards and became one of Chicago's most reliable offensive options in an otherwise forgettable performance. And the timing couldn't be better.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kaden Davis has generated significantly more buzz throughout training camp, while JP Richardson has made his own push. Alexander needed a performance that forced his way back into the conversation for one of the Bears' final receiver spots. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>An 87.3 PFF grade certainly qualifies.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>JP Richardson keeps stacking solid performances\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Richardson continues to quietly make his roster case, too.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His 74.3 overall grade ranked second among Bears players who saw at least 15 offensive snaps. He earned a 73.2 receiving grade while playing 39 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Richardson caught five passes for 48 yards against Cincinnati, including a 19-yard reception that helped put Chicago in position for Cairo Santos' field goal just before halftime. He's not getting the same attention as some of the other receivers, but he keeps hanging around.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Sam Roush is surging\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Roush finished with a 69.7 overall grade over 26 offensive snaps. His receiving grade was even better at 72.3.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The rookie third-round pick is the clear front-runner to be the TE3 behind Loveland and Cole Kmet, which matters more in 2026 than in recent years. The Bears value multiple-tight-end personnel in Ben Johnson's offense; Roush will be on the field a lot.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Roschon Johnson's PFF grade backs up Ben Johnson's praise\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Roschon Johnson continues to help himself. He earned a 69.1 overall grade, including a 78.7 pass-blocking grade, across 26 offensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Ben Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that Chicago's reserve running backs need to contribute beyond simply carrying the football. Special teams and pass protection could ultimately determine the final spots behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson had the kind of all-around performance that could secure an RB3 role.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Mason Murphy quietly grades well again\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Murphy rounds out the qualifying top five with a 68.0 overall grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The reserve tackle played 23 snaps and earned a 77.1 run-blocking grade, another encouraging performance from an offensive lineman fighting for a spot way down the depth chart.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Given how unsettled Chicago's tackle situation has been all summer, every competent performance matters.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Maurice Alexander led the Bears' offensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while JP Richardson and other roster hopefuls also impressed.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787591990526-rhi7zj.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU5MTk5MDUyNi1yaGk3emoud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1OTE5OTEsImV4cCI6MjEwMjk1MTk5MX0.LAAdtC_SyDgWsCQiqV8iWlK9jTUTeqNR-pdZNPPAXqI",photo_credit:"Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T17:12:16.710683+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=["News"],tags:$R[31]=["chicago bears","NFL preseason","player grades","pro football focus"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears' top PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals",meta_description:"Maurice Alexander led the Chicago Bears' offensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while JP Richardson and other roster hopefuls also impressed.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:"$year$month$day$slug20240718espn-chicago-bears-jaylon-johnson-top-10-cb"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()