Jaylon Johnson placed on IR with a groin injury, sidelining the Bears cornerback indefinitely

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune on Sep 20, 2025

Published in Football

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CHICAGO — Ben Johnson declined to speculate Friday on a potential timeline for cornerback Jaylon Johnson to return to action.

The Chicago Bears gave their first update Saturday afternoon when they placed Jaylon Johnson on injured reserve, meaning he will be sidelined a minimum of four games beginning with Sunday’s meeting against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field.

The transaction wasn’t a surprise, and the two-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to miss a huge chunk of the season if not the remaining 15 games.

Offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie also was placed on IR with a left elbow injury suffered in practice on Wednesday. The team signed defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Kpassagnon has one sack and two quarterback hits through the first two games. Additionally, linebacker Carl Jones Jr. and cornerback Dallis Flowers have been elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster to face the Cowboys.

It’s a good sign for D’Andre Swift (quad) that fellow running back Brittain Brown was not activated. Swift was listed as questionable for the game after being limited in practice all week.

Ben Johnson said Jaylon Johnson was seeking opinions regarding his groin injury suffered in Sunday’s 52-21 loss to the Lions in Detroit. At least to this point, the Bears believe there is a chance, however small, he could return later in the season. What those odds are is anyone’s guess, but the player indicated during an appearance on WSCR-AM 670 that season-ending surgery is one option.

The club already has designated two players to return from IR this season: running back Travis Homer and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga. Teams can designate a maximum of eight players to return from IR, and defensive end Austin Booker is expected to join this group at some point in October. A decision on Jaylon Johnson does not need to be made now, so it’s not as if the Bears risk using a designation that won’t come to fruition.

Losing Jaylon Johnson puts the defense in a difficult spot, and with nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) still sidelined, factors are complicated for a pass defense that has allowed a league-high seven passing touchdowns through two games.

“Obviously when you lose a player of that caliber it’s a big hindrance to your team,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “So you’ve got to readjust how you operate, the calls you make, and each and every week is going to be different.”

The roster remains fluid and more moves are likely in the coming week. The team has an opening on the 53-man roster and the practice squad.