The Chicago Bears aren’t yet certain they will have Pro-Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson for their Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, but he’s talking like he’s planning to be on the field.
Johnson talked about squaring off against wide receiver Justin Jefferson and picking off second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first-ever NFL start.
“I’m more enticed to go against [Jefferson] than the quarterback, per se,” Johnson said, per Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “But hopefully there are some passes that are left inside for me to be able to intercept on certain coverages or whatever the case may be. We’re looking forward to disrupting [McCarthy] a lot.”
Jaylon Johnson’s Playmaking Ability Could Prove Difference in J.J. McCarthy’s First NFL Start
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Johnson’s presence in the secondary would undoubtedly prove a huge boon for the Bears defense, as it faces what was one of the most potent offenses in the league in 2024.
The big difference, of course, is McCarthy will start instead of Sam Darnold. The latter left for a $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, which Minnesota was content enough to allow. The Vikings stated publicly that they preferred Darnold return, though that was never likely to happen as Minnesota didn’t intend to pay him nine figures or guarantee him the starting job — even on the heels of a Pro-Bowl season defined by more than 4,300 yards passing and 35 TDs.
The Vikings brass clearly believes in McCarthy after also allowing Daniel Jones, who will start Week 1 for the Indianapolis Colts, to depart in free agency. But McCarthy remains a relative unknown, in some ways even to his own teammates and coaching staff, as he’s never played a meaningful down of NFL football.
As such, a savvy cornerback in Johnson known for explosive playmaking and shadowing Jefferson — far and away Minnesota’s most dangerous option in the pass game — could lead to one big play that turns the tide.
Vikings Will Likely Try to Mitigate McCarthy’s Inexperience by Using Tight Ends, Running Backs Extensively
GettyRunning back Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings.
That said, the Vikings will likely run more 12 personnel with tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver playing together, and look to work the short and intermediate portions of the field to help McCarthy adjust, move the chains and avoid mistakes.
Minnesota should also be able to run the football with relative effectiveness via the duo of Aaron Jones and new addition Jordan Mason. Both inked two-year contract with the Vikings this offseason and will provide interesting changes of pace that should challenge the Bears’ defensive front behind a revamped offensive line in Minnesota that will see two new starters at guard and a new starter at center in 2025.
The Vikings’ offense will also operate at something of a disadvantage, with WR2 Jordan Addison out for the first three games of the year due to a suspension for his violation of the league’s code of conduct policy. Partly in response to Addison’s absence, Minnesota traded with the Carolina Panthers to bring back longtime Vikings wideout and hometown favorite Adam Thielen.
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