Johnson intercepted a pass and posted two tackles in the Bears' 21-16 loss to the Colts on Sunday.
With just five tackles over the first three games of the season, Johnson will need to continue picking off passes to have enough IDP value to be a reliable fantasy starter. However, Johnson has intercepted seven passes in his six years in the league, so it's unlikely he posts big interception numbers.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Picks off pass
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Johnson recorded three tackles and an interception in the Bears' 24-17 win over the Titans on Sunday.
After posting a career-high four interceptions in 2023, Johnson started out the new season on a high note. Also, Johnson averaged 2.57 tackles last year, so his tackle production in this game was in line with previous levels. Based on his moderate tackle totals, Johnson is often reliant upon interceptions to have strong fantasy performances.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Top cornerback in Chicago
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Johnson had a career year in 2023 with four picks while recording 36 tackles, a touchdown and a forced fumble. The Bears then signed the cornerback to a four-year deal in March.
Johnson is being counted on to be the Bears' top coverage cornerback on the outside. The main concern with the veteran is missed time. Johnson has missed at least two games in each of his four seasons. In total, he has missed 14 games since 2020. Johnson has averaged 2.8 tackles per game over the past two seasons. Unless he can improve on those tackle totals, Johnson will remain a low-ceiling IDP.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Getting four-year deal
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Johnson (shoulder) and the Bears agreed to terms on a four-year, $76 million contract extension Thursday, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
Johnson, whom Chicago extended the franchise tag to Tuesday, is instead sticking around on a multi-year contract that includes $43.8 million guaranteed at signing, per Schultz. A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Johnson is now being paid as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, a level which he played up to last season. His presence provides the Bears with a reliable pillar in the secondary, one which the rest of the defense can be built around, health provided. Across his four years in the league, Johnson -- who is presumably past the shoulder issue that sidelined him in Week 18 last season -- has managed to suit up for 13, 15, 11, and 14 regular-season games.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Working on new contract
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Bears general manager Ryan Poles said the Bears are in the process of getting a contract extension done with Johnson (shoulder), Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
Johnson is coming off a strong fourth season, having recorded 36 tackles, 10 passes defended and four interceptions during the 2023 campaign. He'll be one of the top potential free agents this offseason if the Bears are unable to re-sign him before free agency begins. According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Poles would like to avoid using the franchise tag on Johnson, but it's not clear if they will if they're unable to each an agreement on an extension.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Heads toward free agency
Rotowire
Johnson (shoulder) was inactive in the Bears' 17-9 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
After intercepting just one pass in his first three years in the league, Johnson had a career year with four picks. The veteran also recorded 36 tackles, a touchdown and a forced fumble in 2023. After his strong season, Johnson's contract has been fulfilled, and the cornerback is an unrestricted free agent.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Misses practice with shoulder issue
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Johnson (shoulder) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Johnson picked up a shoulder issue during Sunday's win versus the Falcons, and it's now keeping him out of the Bears' first practice of the new week. He'll probably need to return to practice Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play in Week 18.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Departs with injury in Week 17
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Johnson left Sunday's game against Atlanta with a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
Johnson was injured while making a tackle in the second half and subsequently took himself out of the game. Tyrique Stevenson should get more defensive snaps if Johnson is unable to return Sunday.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Returns to full participation
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Johnson (hamstring) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Johnson missed Chicago's last two games with a hamstring injury, and it now seems as if he's had enough time to move past the issue. The 24-year-old has started all 42 games he's appeared in since coming into the league in 2020, and he'll likely return to a starting cornerback spot this coming Sunday against the Vikings.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Remains out
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Johnson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Commanders.
Johnson suffered the injury during the team's Week 3 loss to the Chiefs and was unable to play Sunday against the Broncos. After logging a DNP each day this week, the Utah product will now be forced to sit out once again.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Won't return Sunday
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Johnson has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Chiefs due to a hamstring injury, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Johnson recorded two tackles before exiting. The Bears are now down four starters in their secondary, so multiple reserves will have to step up versus Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who built a huge first-half lead.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Recovered from hand injury
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Coach Matt Eberflus said Johnson (finger) is fully recovered and "good to go" but is not participating in OTAs, ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports.
One would have to assume Johnson's absence from OTAs is contract related, as he's headed into the final year of his rookie deal that is set to pay him just $2.993 million in 2023. Chicago's No. 1 corner, Johnson is likely sitting out the voluntary part of the offseason program while seeking an extension.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Ends season on injured reserve
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Johnson ended the season with 35 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 11 games.
Johnson (finger/ribs) was placed on injured reserve after Week 15 and played 11 games. He failed to intercept a pass, and he has just one pick during his three years in the league. As a tackler, he averaged three per game, though his game-to-game production was inconsistent. Unless his situation changes next year, he'll be a moderate-floor, low-upside IDP option. He's under contract with the team through the 2023 season.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Dealing with injury to ribs
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Johnson exited Sunday's loss versus Philadelphia with a rib injury, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The precise severity of the injury is still unknown. Should the 2020 second-rounder Johnson miss any game action, Jaylon Jones would probably be in line for an expanded role in Chicago's secondary.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Active Sunday
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Johnson is active for Sunday's matchup against Detroit.
Johnson drew a questionable designation after logging limited practices Thursday and Friday due to an oblique injury, but he'll be available Sunday. Across six appearances, the third-year cornerback has totaled 14 tackles (11 solo) and three pass defenses while playing nearly every defensive snap.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Inactive Sunday
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Johnson (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
As expected, Johnson will remain sidelined for a third straight game after picking up a quadriceps injury during Week 3 prep. The third-year cornerback returned to practice Friday as a limited participant for the first time since suffering the injury, which bodes well for his availability for the Bears' Week 6 matchup against the Commanders on Thursday. In his absence, Jaylon Jones and Kindle Vildor have garnered increased roles.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: To sit against Houston
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Johnson (quad) is inactive Week 3 against the Texans.
Johnson has seen plenty of work in the Chicago secondary over the first two weeks, but he picked up a quad injury Thursday that will ultimately force him out. Kindle Vildor should continue to see a high snap count in his stead, while fourth-year corner Lamar Jackson could also be called upon for a larger role.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Questionable for Sunday
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Johnson (quadriceps) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans.
Johnson popped up on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant and didn't practice Friday, but he still has a chance to suit up Sunday. The third-year cornerback has played all but one of the Bears' defensive snaps over the first two games of the season, so his potential absence would be a huge blow to Chicago's defense.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Preparing for new defensive system
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Johnson expects to maintain his execution and approach despite the Bears being expected to play much more zone defense under coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears official site reports.
After playing as part of a secondary that struggled in each of Johnson's first two years with Chicago, the team added rookies Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon, which could raise the level of play across the defense. After averaging four tackles as a rookie, Johnson averaged just three tackles last year. If his rookie teammates play well immediately, Johnson could see a spike in IDP production in the new defensive scheme that often allows the defensive backs to play aggressively when all of the players can master their responsibilities.
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Bears' Jaylon Johnson: Meager output in season finale
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Johnson tallied two stops in the Bears' 31-17 Week 18 loss to the Vikings, and he ended the season with 46 tackles, an interception and nine passes defensed.
Johnson made a slight increase on his tackle total from his rookie season, though he has just one interception over his first two years in the league. But as a full-time starter, he should continue to post solid tackle totals with the hope that the interception numbers will go up. He'll go into the third year of his four-year rookie deal in 2022, likely as the No. 1 corner for the Bears.
