Bears CB Jaylon Johnson shares hopeful injury update for Week 1

The Chicago Bears kick off their season with a prime-time matchup Monday night against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, and they might have one of their most important players back from injury just in time.

Star cornerback Jaylon Johnson told the media Tuesday that he’s doing everything he can to get cleared in time for Monday night’s game:

Johnson is working his way back from a groin injury he sustained earlier in the offseason.

A second-round pick out of Utah in the 2020 NFL Draft, Johnson has become one of the NFL’s most dominant corners when fully healthy, which led to the Bears giving him a monster contract extension just last year. He’s already earned two Pro Bowl nods, and at 26 years old, is just now entering the prime of his career.

Last year was the first season in Johnson’s five-year career so far in which he’s played every game, starting all 17 weeks for the Bears and logging career-highs in solo and total tackles while grabbing two interceptions and breaking up eight passes. NFL quarterbacks have gotten smarter when it comes to challenging Johnson’s side of the field, and he usually makes them pay when the ball does come his way.

It would obviously be a massive boost for the Bears defense is Johnson was able to practice this week and be active for Monday night’s season opener against the Vikings, as Chicago looks to get off to a fast start in what could be the toughest division in the entire NFL this season.

If Johnson’s not able to go Monday night, the Bears would need Jaylon Jones to step up and deliver in his stead alongside Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon.