Bears activate cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon from IR for Friday's game

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune on Nov 27, 2025

Published in Football

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CHICAGO — Help is on the way for the Chicago Bears secondary.

The Bears activated two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and nickel corner Kyler Gordon to the 53-man roster Thursday, clearing the way for them to play Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles in a battle of 8-3 NFC teams at Lincoln Financial Field.

Johnson has been sidelined since Week 2, when he reinjured his groin, requiring core muscle surgery. The Bears opened his 21-day return-to-practice window Nov. 14, and he has been a full participant in practice since last week.

His return is a major boost for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who has had a more complex roster puzzle to solve as the season has gone along, especially in the last month. Johnson’s availability comes at the right time, too, as he’s expected to replace Tyrique Stevenson, who left Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hip injury and didn’t practice this week.

Stevenson, whose injury first popped up during the Nov. 16 win at Minnesota, was ruled out for Friday’s game.

Gordon returns after missing nine games, the result of a series of soft-tissue injuries that first became an issue in early August. Considering the amount of time he has missed and how seamlessly C.J. Gardner-Johnson has played in the nickel spot, it will be interesting to see how the secondary is aligned.

Johnson first suffered groin and calf injuries while training on his own just before training camp began in July. The Bears were cautious bringing him back, keeping him out of the season opener before using him on a snap count in Week 2 in Detroit. That lasted 20 plays until Johnson reinjured the groin, forcing him to miss the next nine games.

It was Gardner-Johnson who hinted Wednesday that Johnson would be back.

“He’s one of the best corners in the league,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I’m excited for him because everybody asks (and) always says, ‘What can you do against a great receiving corps?’ And you have a chance to prove it, shut everybody up and get back active.”

The Eagles have some questions at wide receiver as DeVonta Smith, who leads them with 55 receptions for 754 yards (a 13.7 average) didn’t practice this week. He’s on the injury report with the rare triple ailment: shoulder/chest/illness.

Wide receiver A.J. Brown torched the Bears the last time he played them, catching nine passes for 181 yards in the Eagles’ 25-20 win at Soldier Field on Dec. 18, 2022.

To make room for Johnson and Gordon, the Bears placed rookie guard Luke Newman on injured reserve and waived running back Brittain Brown. Newman, a sixth-round pick, suffered a foot injury against the Steelers on Sunday, when he played 22 snaps filling in for right guard Jonah Jackson.

Allen will have to piece things together again at linebacker. D’Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga, who combined for 29 tackles Sunday, are expected to start. T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow) and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) are out.

Defensive end Dominique Robinson remains in concussion protocol and also was ruled out.

On the upside, left tackle Theo Benedet did not have an injury designation. He practiced in full this week after missing last week’s game with a quadriceps injury, so the coaching staff has a decision to make between him and rookie Ozzy Trapilo.

Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (hand) and running backs Kyle Monangai (knee) and Travis Homer (hamstring/knee) also had no injury designations and should be good to go.

The Bears elevated guard Jordan McFadden and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin from the practice squad to the game-day roster.