LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is present with the team for the voluntary third phase of the offseason program after being absent prior to this week.
Johnson, 27, missed much of the 2025 season following core muscle surgery in September. He was limited to just seven games in the regular season.
Johnson previously missed portions of the Bears' offseason program, citing his desire to remain home in California with his young daughter. He also married his longtime girlfriend earlier in May.
"Voluntary program, so everyone's got different ways they want to go about their business," Bears head coach Ben Johnson said. "But I appreciate him being here now with his teammates and getting to know them. We have a lot of new faces in the building, so you can't overstate the importance of that. It’s just getting to know your buddy, because you're going to lay it out on the line for him on game day, and so that's what we're looking to do right now.”
Johnson was a Pro Bowl cornerback in 2023 and 2024 before his injury setbacks last season. He suffered a groin injury while training prior to camp last July. Johnson then reaggravated that injury in a game on Sept. 14. He returned in late November to play the final six games of the regular season and two playoff games, but he struggled to perform at his best level.
The Bears are eager to see if Johnson can play at his top form again this season. He has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $76-million contract.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
