Jaylon Johnson injury update: Bears finally get good news as star corner returns to practice

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If you’re a Bears fan who’s been refreshing injury reports like it’s a full-time job, today finally feels different. After weeks of silence, setbacks, and “will he, won’t he” energy, Chicago just made the move everyone was waiting for, cornerback Jaylon Johnson is officially back on the practice field.

It’s the first real sign of life since he went down with that stubborn groin/core muscle injury earlier this season, and trust me, the vibes instantly changed. A Pro Bowl CB returning this late in the year? Yeah, the stakes just got spicy.

What we know about Jaylon Johnson’s injury, recovery timeline, and realistic return expectations

The Bears have activated the 21-day practice window for Jaylon Johnson, which means the team can now evaluate him before deciding whether to officially move him back onto the active roster.

This is the first time Johnson has been seen practicing since undergoing surgery to repair a groin/core-muscle issue that originally surfaced in the offseason and flared up again early in Week 2.Coach Ben Johnson (no relation) confirmed that the corner is “in a good spot,” but there’s still a ramp-up period ahead. Translation: the Bears are hyped, but they’re not rushing him into action until he’s fully ready.Johnson’s injury wasn’t some minor tweak, it was a complicated core-muscle issue that required surgery and weeks of rehab.

The Bears placed him on injured reserve in late September, and he hasn’t played a snap since. Now that he’s finally practicing again, the Bears have a 21-day window to decide his fate: activate him, or shut him down for the rest of the season.A few reports have floated around December 7 as a possible return date, but nothing is guaranteed. The coaching staff expects him to build up strength, regain lower-body explosiveness, and most importantly trust the repaired area before taking live snaps.It’s progress. Big progress. But it’s not a “see you Sunday” situation just yet.Anyone who’s watched the Bears defense this season knows one thing, they miss Jaylon Johnson badly. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, a matchup corner, and one of the few players on the roster who can erase half the field on a good day. Losing him early in the year forced Chicago to rotate younger players, shift coverages, and basically play defensive Tetris every week.