Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson delivered a concerning update on cornerback Jaylon Johnson ahead of the team’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to The Detroit News, Johnson expressed concern that his conditioning could be an issue, even if he is cleared to play. He also said the Bears want to do their best to make sure their star cornerback doesn't reinjure himself.
Coach Johnson doesn’t want to rush the two-time Pro Bowler.
“Whenever a guy misses that significant amount of time, you’re very cautious in making sure that injury doesn’t reoccur,” he said. “I know he’s feeling significantly better than obviously he was from the start. We’ll see what he looks like moving around and hopefully take it from there.”
That’s the bad news. The good news is that Johnson may play Monday night.
“I’m doing everything I can to play,” Johnson said at Halas Hall via the Chicago Tribune. “I had a good workout this morning, so I’m feeling good, probably the best I felt all offseason — well, training camp, per se — but just trying to do everything I can to be back.”
Johnson had a really bad groin injury during the offseason, which has taken him a while to recover.
“I was doing some releases with some receivers,” he said, “and honestly, I would say (it was) a freak accident. As far as the injury, (it’s the) same movement I’ve made plenty of times, and had a pretty bad, bad injury in my groin.”
Johnson also said he is waiting to get cleared by the Bears' medical staff.
“I plan to get cleared (by medical staff) today, and then I can start practicing,” he said.
The Bears need Johnson to return soon to help in their secondary.
Johnson said he could play if he had to, but he says he wants to “get the pads back on, get practices under my belt, game speed, moving around, covering guys, communicating.”