Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is likely to miss the rest of the 2025 NFL season after aggravating a groin injury, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz quoted by ESPN. Johnson, 26, had already sat out training camp and Week 1 with the problem.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Courtney Cronin earlier reported the Pro Bowler would be “out indefinitely” as the team assessed the full extent of the injury and whether surgery might be required.
The timing is a blow for the 0-2 Bears, who face the Dallas Cowboys and star wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in Week 3.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Johnson has registered seven interceptions, 49 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 71 career games. His absence compounds Chicago’s defensive struggles, with the unit conceding 27 points to rookie J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 and a heavy 52 points to Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions in Week 2.
Goff threw for 334 yards and five touchdowns, exposing a Bears secondary already under pressure.
“In the passing game, we just simply didn’t affect the quarterback,” head coach Ben Johnson had said. “We tried to mix up the coverages, and they hurt us a little bit in some of our single-high stuff with their speed. The explosive plays are an issue. You feel those.”
Safety Jaquan Brisker admitted he was surprised by the defensive collapse: “We can’t allow explosives. We haven’t allowed it all camp. We haven’t allowed any in practice. I was shocked just like everybody else.”
The Bears’ problems deepened when linebacker T J Edwards, who had already missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury, was forced off again on Sunday.