After beating the New York Giants in what turned out to be an epic fourth quarter comeback, the Chicago Bears leapfrogged the Green Bay Packers for second place in the NFC North, tied in record with the division leaders, the Detroit Lions.
And a great week 10 has been followed by some excellent news prior to week 11, when the team officially announced that All-Pro cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, has had his 21-day practice window opened to return to the active roster, on November 14, per head coach Ben Johnson.
Bears To Open 21-Day Practice Window For All-Pro
“The Bears will open CB Jaylon Johnson’s 21-day practice window today, per head coach Ben Johnson.” The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain wrote.
This news did not come out of nowhere. Ben Johnson said earlier in the week that he hoped that his two-time Pro Bowl corner would return to practice soon.
“We should be able to get them back at some point end of the season here, but kind of too be determined on when those clocks will start clicking here.â The Bears head coach said about the playing statuses of Johnson and nickel, Kyler Gordon. “I just saw Jaylon in the weight room. Heâs excited about where he is right now and is hopeful that heâs gonna be able to be out on the practice field here soon.â
After achieving his second straight Pro Bowl in 2024, following on from a joint Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro campaign in 2023, Jaylon Johnson’s presence has been almost non-existent in 2025.
Chicago Has Been Dealing With An Injury-Hit Secondary All Year
The 2020 second round pick has managed just 20 snaps on defense this season – back in week 2’s blowout loss to the Loins – before suffering a core muscle injury that same game which ultimately landed him on injured reserve. Johnson also missed the season opener the week before with a calf/groin injury.
The Bears have been injury hit at the corner position this season beyond just Johnson, however. Starting nickel, Kyler Gordon – who signed a three year, $40 million extension this past offseason, has missed every game this season barring back-to-back wins in week 6 and 7 against the Washington Commanders and the New Orleans Saints.
In their places, the team have had to rely on former Dallas Cowboys third round pick, Nahshon Wright, who has taken on duties on the exterior, and 2021 undrafted free agent, Nick McCLoud, who has manned the slot.
Neither have been ultra effective; Wright has a 52.3 grade from Pro Football Focus for his work on the year, grading him out as a bottom-20 corner in the league this season (90th out of 109). McCloud, meanwhile, has a bottom-10 ranking per PFF – coming in as the 104th corner with a very uninspiring 46.8 grade.
So the re-addition of both Gordon and Johnson in the foreseeable future will be a huge boon to a team whose secondary has been the team’s biggest Achilles heel.
And perhaps it can inspire the Bears to truly compete for their first division title since back in 2018, under Matt Nagy.
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