The Chicago Bears were plagued by injuries last offseason, especially at cornerback, with two-time Pro Bowlers Jaylen Johnson and Nick Kyler Gordon missing most of the 2025 season.
Johnson suffered a groin injury before training camp last season and played only seven games, an injury that continued into the regular season. Gordon, meanwhile, played in just three games and was placed on injured reserve multiple times. Both played in the team’s divisional playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams but wasted a lot of time.
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“We’re almost completely starting over again this spring and getting on the right track as far as relationship building,” head coach Ben Johnson said, via ChicagoBears.com. “But we’re a better team and we’re certainly a better defense when those two are on the field. They’re paid the way they are for a reason. We need them.”
Despite leading the NFL in tackles for loss (33) and interceptions (23), the Bears’ defense leaves a lot to be desired in 2025. In addition to struggling to get after the quarterback, a big reason is the absence of Johnson and Gordon in the secondary.
“The tighter they cover, the better our pass rush is going to be,” Johnson said. “That’s what you see when you watch the self-scout. I know there’s a lot of emphasis on the pass rush – I get that – but there’s also a connection between the rush and coverage. So we need those guys. I’m really looking forward to getting them on the field this spring and during training camp and being able to get some real good work out of them.”
Both Johnson and Gordon were dealt with injuries over the summer, with Johnson missing all of training camp and the preseason, so getting both men on the floor during offseason workouts will be critical to the defense and team’s success in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ben Johnson on what Bears are missing out on without Jalon Johnson, Kyler Gordon
