As the Chicago Bears prepare to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, they’ll be without arguably their best player in Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who landed on injured reserve and will be out indefinitely.
The move to place Johnson on IR came after he had missed all of training camp and preseason with a groin injury that also kept him out of the regular season opener. But he made his 2025 debut last week against the Detroit Lions, where he suffered a new groin injury that has him sidelined for the foreseeable future.
In the first two games of the season, Chicago has been without both Johnson and nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, leaving Tyrique Stevenson as their top player at the position, but he has struggled mightily early on. Early reports had suggested that Johnson could be lost for the season, so the latest update should come as a relief that there is a chance for his return this year.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been challenged with injuries to his top superstars in Johnson, Gordon, and linebacker T.J. Edwards, and their absences have hurt the defense tremendously. After allowing 79 points in their first two games of the season, not only do the Bears need to turn it around on defense, but they’ll need to hold out hope that Johnson can return sooner than later.
Jaylon Johnson injury update
Johnson suffered a groin injury while training ahead of training camp, and he missed the entire summer, including preseason, as well as Week 1. Johnson made his season debut in Week 2 against the Lions, where he reaggravated his groin injury in the second quarter. It was revealed that Johnson suffered a new groin injury — the same groin — that has him sidelined indefinitely.
Will Jaylon Johnson return in 2025?
But not all hope or optimism should be lost for Johnson this season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Johnson will fly to Philadelphia early next week to meet with Dr. Williams Meyers, where the expectation is core muscle surgery. Rapoport noted that, if that’s the case, Johnson has a chance to return during the season half of the 2025 season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Jaylon Johnson injury update: Surgery, potential return for Bears CB
