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Jaylon Johnson indicates season-ending surgery is possible after Bears CB suffers a new groin injury

Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune on

Published in Football

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson has a new groin injury, and the team hasn’t determined how much time the two-time Pro Bowl selection might miss. Johnson exited Sunday’s 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions in the second quarter.

Johnson also missed all of training camp and the season opener with a groin injury, but coach Ben Johnson said Monday this is a different injury.

“We’re still gathering some information on that,” Ben said. “It’s a new injury; it’s not related to what he had before. So we’re still trying to gather a little bit more information before we know (his status) for sure.”

During his weekly radio spot on WSCR-AM 670 on Monday, Jaylon described the injury as being in the same region but a different side of the groin than his previous injury before training camp.

Jaylon indicated that surgery — possibly season-ending surgery — is one option the team is weighing.

“When you put in so much time, put in so much effort, of course it hurts when you’re looking pretty much for your season to be ended, and it’s not ideal,”Jaylon said. “I put in an extreme amount of work and preparation.”

Jaylon said he didn’t feel like the team rushed him back from the initial groin injury, but he did say there was a sense of urgency.

“I felt comfortable playing,” he said. “I know if I didn’t feel comfortable, I wouldn’t have played, no matter what anybody was saying. But I definitely pushed myself good enough. I felt strong. I felt really good during practice.”

Jaylon originally injured his groin in July while training on his own before camp. He later called it a “freak” injury on a routine movement, and he wound up missing all of camp.

At the time, the Bears indicated they were hoping for a Week 1 return.

“We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back,” general manager Ryan Poles said at the time.

 

Jaylon worked his way back to practice ahead of Week 1, but he didn’t play in the season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Last week, with a matchup against the high-powered Lions offense looming, Jaylon was a full participant in practice all week.

He started Sunday’s game and played 20 snaps before suffering the new groin injury. He was injured while making a diving attempt to break up a Jared Goff pass intended for wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Bears also have been without starting nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon through the first two weeks because of a hamstring injury. Without two of their best defensive backs, the Bears allowed 511 total yards Sunday, including 334 through the air.

With Jaylon out of the game, the Bears inserted backup Nahshon Wright — who returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 — into the lineup as an outside corner.

Replacing Jaylon for an extended period, though, could be a challenge for coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense.

“What he showed yesterday in the limited reps that he did get was the ability to close on the football,” Ben said. “I know he had a pass breakup, which was a big play for us. That was going to be another explosive gain, but he was able to get his hands on the ball.

“I do see sticky coverage. I see recoverability. He certainly can anticipate and he knows what’s coming the majority of the time.”

Jaylon went to the Pro Bowl after the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Now in his sixth NFL season, the 2020 second-round draft pick has seven career interceptions and four forced fumbles. The Bears signed him to a four-year, $76 million contract extension in March 2024.

The Bears secondary could have its work cut out for it Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is fresh off a 361-yard effort in an overtime win against the New York Giants in Week 2.

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