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Ben Johnson will make his head coaching debut when the Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. Fans anticipate a much improved offense in Johnson’s first year at the helm. But defense could be an issue in the season opener as the status of both Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon remains unclear.
Johnson has been hampered with groin and calf injuries throughout the offseason. And insider Adam Schefter has serious reservations about the Pro Bowl corner’s availability Monday.
“Jaylon Johnson is listed as questionable, I don’t know that he’s gonna go tonight. I have my doubts about whether he’s gonna play tonight,” Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Chicago’s secondary could be at a significant disadvantage as the team’s other top cornerback could be sidelined as well. “Kyler Gordon [was] put on the injury report with a hamstring injury. I don’t know that he’s gonna play tonight,” Schefter added.
“So the Bears could be down Jaylon Johnson, they could be down Kyler Gordon. They could be down any number of defensive backs as J.J. McCarthy makes his first NFL start.”
Johnson was trending in the right direction as he returned to practice last week. However, he remained limited by his groin injury and he’s questionable for Week 1.
A second-round pick in 2020, Johnson has developed into one of the league’s best defensive backs. Prior to the start of last season, Chicago re-signed the sixth-year veteran to a $76 million contract.
This offseason the Bears signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million deal. The extensions helped solidify Chicago’s secondary as the team looks to rebound from a 5-12 season in 2024.
Chicago moved on from head coach Matt Eberflus after three straight losing seasons. The Bears hired Ben Johnson hoping the former Detroit Lions OC could develop second-year passer Caleb Williams.
The team’s new look offense will debut on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. While the Bears targeted Week 1 as Jaylon Johnson’s return date from injury, he could sit out the season opener.
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