The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals held a joint practice on Thursday. It offered a great opportunity for both teams to work against different players and get a feel for what they’d see come the regular season. It offered several players on the roster to make a statement as well. The Bears have several roster battles to sort out. Such a practice could answer many questions. However, it could also serve as a preamble for some of the more proven players to announce that a big season is incoming. Enter Jaylon Johnson.
The cornerback didn’t mince words. He understands 2026 is a massive season for him. Last year was a disappointment after injuries turned him into a shell of himself. Johnson knows that this is basically a contract year. If he can put together a great season, he can land one more big contract before his 30s. As we’ve seen in the past, Johnson becomes an incredible player when he is motivated. That was on full display in the joint practice against Cincinnati, where Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and others witnessed the corner put the clamps on star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase still was fuming after practice Thursday that a ball didn’t come his way after he sprung open during team drills against the Bears.
Perhaps he was annoyed by the cornerback across from him, too.
The Bears’ Jaylon Johnson played Chase, who is just two years removed from leading the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, close during the joint practice.
‘‘Real good corner,’’ Chase said. “Pretty aggressive on a couple of plays.”
Jaylon Johnson got some revenge for his team.
The Bears last tangled with Chase during the 2025 season, where the All-Pro carved through them for 111 yards on just six catches. That was with Joe Flacco throwing him the ball. Imagine how bad it might’ve gotten if Joe Burrow had been healthy. However, one asterisk about that game nobody talks about? Jaylon Johnson didn’t play. He was still out recovering from his core injury suffered earlier in the season. Knowing him, there was a sense the game wouldn’t have been as close had he been on the field to cover Chase.
Thursday’s joint practice was his way of sending that message. While Tee Higgins had a big day for the Bengals, Chase didn’t accomplish much, thanks in large part to Jaylon Johnson. The cornerback seems to thrive when he draws the best matchups. The better receiver he faces, the better he plays. He lives for the challenge. Johnson doesn’t need to do much talking. That practice performance speaks loud enough. He is plotting a revenge tour in 2026, and this was the appetizer.
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The Pro Bowl version of Johnson would help so much.
Right now, things aren’t great with the Bears’ secondary. Tyrique Stevenson is hardly a consistent presence at this stage. Kyler Gordon has yet to practice in training camp at all. Even worse, big-ticket free agent safety Coby Bryant injured his knee, knocking him out for the next two months. The only source of stability at this point is Johnson. Getting him back to full strength would give the Bears a pillar to steady things. Something they just didn’t have last season.
The truth is, the Bears don’t need a great defense. Presuming their offense remains as high-octane as last season, they can win plenty of games with even an average defense. A healthy Johnson can get them a step towards that. All they’ll need is an improved pass rush and decent run defense. One thing is certain. The Bears better get that checkbook ready.
