Bears set to get some (not all) defensive starters back Sunday vs. Lions

In the wake of their defense collapsing late against the Vikings on Monday, one way the Bears could improve Sunday against the Lions is by having their starting lineup intact. That won’t happen yet, but some vital players should be back.

The Bears gave a green light to cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker T.J. Edwards after both missed the opener. Johnson was a full participant in practice all week, and Edwards went through the whole practice Friday. Neither had a game designation on the injury report.

The Bears won’t have nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, however, after ruling him out with a hamstring injury. And defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, one of their top priorities in free agency, was limited by a knee injury Friday and listed as questionable.

Nahshon Wright and Nick McCloud, both journeymen, started against the Vikings in place of Johnson and Gordon, respectively. Noah Sewell started for Edwards.

Jarrett declined to answer any questions about his injury, but said he was “fully focused on Detroit” as he got ready for practice Friday.

Cornerback is the Bears’ deepest position, but they don’t have anyone else on Johnson’s level. He was a Pro Bowl selection each of the last two seasons, and Pro Football Focus ranked him the fourth-best corner in the NFL going into this season. He also is the Bears’ sixth-highest paid player.

He’d be an obvious candidate to stick on Lions All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and even after missing extended time because of an offseason groin injury, he looked ready for that type of assignment this week.

“What I feel immediately is just the presence out there,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “Then when you watch [practice Thursday], he’s very sticky. We like to eliminate the space in our coverages. He’s going to be a really good fit here for us this week.”

Jarrett is irreplaceable as well, given his tenacity as a run stopper and pass rusher, though Andrew Billings is a solid option to start in his place if needed.

Jarrett was mostly positive about his Bears debut, when the Bears had held the Vikings to just six points early in the fourth quarter and had a defensive touchdown on Wright’s pick-six.

“It got a little loose at the end,” Jarrett said. “We could finish better. It’s really encouraging because there’s much more room for us to grow.

“You never play a perfect game. As the season goes on, we need to be better.”