Ben Johnson on what Bears missed without Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon

The Chicago Bears dealt with their share of injury struggles last offseason, most notably at cornerback where two-time Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and nickel Kyler Gordon missed most of the 2025 season.

Johnson was limited to just seven games last season after suffering a groin injury before training camp that carried over into the regular season. Meanwhile, Gordon appeared in just three games with multiple stints on injured reserve. Both were on the field for the team’s divisional playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams, but there was a lot of time lost.

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“It’s almost like we’re starting over completely again this spring in terms of relationship building and starting off on the right track,” head coach Ben Johnson said, via ChicagoBears.com. “But we’re a better team, we’re certainly a better defense, when those two guys are out there. There’s a reason why they’re paid the way they’re paid. We need them out there.”

Despite leading the NFL in takeaways (33) and interceptions (23), the Bears defense left a lot to be desired on the field in 2025. A big reason for that, outside of struggling to get after the quarterback, was the absences of Johnson and Gordon in the secondary.

“The tighter they are in coverage, the better our pass rush is going to be,” Johnson said. “That’s what you look at watching the self-scout. I know there’s a lot of emphasis on the pass rush—I got it—but there’s a marriage between that rush and coverage as well. So we need those guys out there. I really look forward to having them out there this spring and during training camp and getting able to get some really good work out of them.”

Johnson and Gordon both dealt with injuries during the summer, with Johnson missing the entirety of training camp and preseason, so getting both out on the field during offseason workouts is vital for the defense’s — and team’s — success in 2026.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ben Johnson on what Bears missed without Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon