Welcome to the 2026 Chicago Bears Season Preview on Bears By 7, a player-by-player look at the team's roster and their chances.

First time here? Sign up here for our free Chicago Bears newsletter!

2025 will go down as Jaylon Johnson’s lost year.

After making second-team All-Pro in 2024, Johnson suffered a pelvic injury during a private summer workout and missed the entire training camp and preseason schedule.

When Johnson finally returned to the field in Week 2, he promptly suffered a core muscle injury that required surgery and a lengthy stint on the IR. He was able to return in Week 13, but he was a shadow of himself as he played through the pain.

Johnson gave up a 72.7 percent completion rate and 92.2 passer rating over his seven games, stunning numbers for someone who’s locked down his side of the field for most of the decade. There were a few flashes of his old self (like this great pick of Shedeur Sanders) but it certainly wasn’t a season that Johnson will fondly remember.

There’s been a lot of optimism around a bounce back season from Johnson during the spring and summer. Coach Ben Johnson said the veteran corner had stacked several good practices during OTAs. Johnson’s trainer also posted a workout video on July 9 with the caption “We back 100%.”

Getting to this point has to be a good feeling for Johnson, who admitted the mental toll of not being his old self really wore on him in 2025.

Now comes the task of showing he can return to Pro Bowl form.