Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson doesn’t seem to be heading to the bench anytime soon. And while I don’t think he is on thin ice, Johnson could be at risk of losing playing time.
At least, that is my main takeaway hearing Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson talk about the starting cornerback’s up-and-down year before mentioning how a reserve defensive lineman and core special teams contributor played their way into a bigger role:
Full answer from Ben Johnson on Jaylon Johnson: t.co/fzZNUJiVH4
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 28, 2026Here is the full quote from the Bears head coach when discussing what’s up with his starting cornerback:
“There’s been some ups and some downs. And so, just like everybody, we’re evaluating at the end of each game. Winning performance versus losing performance. But like I alluded to with Daniel Hardy. He’s a prime example. Guys that are stepping up in their opportunities that they warrant more playing time. That’s the case that we do offense, defense, and special teams each and every week. And we’ll continue to do that.”
My takeaway here is that Jaylon Johnson is under a week-to-week evaluation. However, Ben Johnson bringing up how defensive lineman Daniel Hardy played his way into the rotation should be seen as a sign that it could happen elsewhere on the team if players make the most of their opportunities. This is a situation to continue monitoring for obvious reasons.
Ben Johnson on Jaylon Johnson’s 2026: ‘There Have Been Some Ups and Some Downs’
The 2026 season has been a rough one for Jaylon Johnson. Pro Football Focus lists Johnson as the eighth-lowest-graded cornerback (40.9 overall) among the 103 who have played enough snaps to qualify for the leaderboard. Johnson’s 36.8 coverage grade is the sixth-lowest among cornerbacks. These grades represent a precipitous drop for Johnson, who was PFF’s highest-graded cornerback in 2023. And while grades don’t tell the whole story, it’s not like the eye test tells a different tale.
Simply put, Johnson doesn’t look like the lockdown corner he was earlier in his career. He isn’t sticky in coverage and hasn’t been in position to make plays on the ball. It hurts to watch, especially when you remember that the good old days weren’t that long ago. That said, the Bears don’t have a ton of options they can turn to if they wanted to bench Johnson.
17 POTENTIAL BEARS TRADE TARGETS AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE
Tyrique Stevenson has been battling through injuries and ineffective play. Clark Phillips III, who was acquired in the Gervon Dexter Sr. trade, has played only 26 defensive snaps this season. Of those 26 snaps, 17 have been as a slot cornerback — and only 15 have been in coverage. Josh Blackwell has been used sparingly in coverage. Kyler Gordon has only two games under his belt as he works his way back into a full workload. Nick McCloud was just cut to make room on the 53-man roster for running back Zavier Scott.
Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson (1) reacts during the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn ImagesI wish I had the answer to how to get Jaylon Johnson back on track. If I did, I’d put it in the sky at night like the Bat-Signal and make it visible for the folks at Halas Hall. Unfortunately, I don’t. The best solution I can come up with is to treat this situation similarly to how coaches on a baseball team would help a pitcher who is struggling with command or a batter who is in a funk. Give Jaylon the football equivalent of a hard reset day. Spend some extra time in the cage with him. Work on his mechanics and get him back to basics.
If all else fails, the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline is less than two weeks away. The Bears have until Nov. 10 to upgrade their defense. If Johnson doesn’t show signs that he is moving in the right direction, Chicago’s front office shouldn’t hesitate to add a starting-caliber cornerback via trade. Earlier, we discussed Alontae Taylor as a possible trade fit. Colleague Patrick K. Flowers also shared a list of potential cornerback targets who could be on the Bears’ radar. So it’s not as if there aren’t options. But let’s be real. The best option would be the return of a prime Jaylon Johnson. It’s just that I don’t know if that is in the cards.
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