Bears May Lose Another Key Starter After Jaylon Johnson News: Report
Just two weeks into the 2025 regular season, and the Chicago Bears have seen multiple starters re-injure themselves, with top corner Jaylon Johnson likely lost for the year according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Johnson, along with starting linebacker T.J. Edwards, were both sidelined in Week 1 and returned Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. Both left early and didn’t return.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the day after the game on September 15 that Johnson “has a new injury, not related to the previous groin/calf issue.”
If Schultz’s report is to be believed, the Bears’ secondary just took a huge hit, and without Kyler Gordon, who has yet to play this season, they’re down two key starters at cornerback.
The reports on Edwards suggest he could miss significant time, as well.
T.J. Edwards Injury Update: Short-Term IR on the Table
A former NFL team doctor for 17 years, current orthopedic surgeon and sports medical analyst Dr. David J. Chao believes “short term IR” is on the table for Edwards. Chao also suggested that Edwards’ return may have been a tad too premature, which led to “aggravation.”
“It’s hard to speculate what will happen, but it’s possible all three will be sidelined through the Week 5 bye,” Biggs wrote about Johnson, Gordon and Edwards on September 15. “Gordon did not practice last week. You’d imagine he will be limited when he does get back to the practice field. Would the Bears hurry him back this week to face the Cowboys?”
The Bears have an early bye Week 5. Edwards is likely a candidate to return after that.
“If any (all three?) miss the Cowboys game, do you see if they can play in Week 4 in Las Vegas or take the cautious route with the bye following that game?” Biggs added. “It’s something to think about because there is a long season ahead, and the Bears don’t want what would be another recurrence for any of the three key defenders.”
More on the Weight of LB Edwards’ Absence
Edwards led the Bears’ defense with 155 tackles his first year with the team in 2023, and he finished second on the squad in that metric in 2024 (129).
On Sunday in Detroit, the minute he left, the ripple effect was obvious. The Lions RBs kept finding daylight, netting over 150 rushing yards after he was taken out.
Take him out of the lineup, and suddenly the Bears are asking younger players like Noah Sewell and rookie Ruben Hyppolite IV to hold down jobs they may not be quite prepared fot. Tremaine Edmunds is big and decent in coverage, but he’s at his best when paired with a reliable partner who frees him to chase rather than always clean up. That’s why Edwards is so underrated and valuable: He makes the people around him better because they can trust him to do the dirty work.
Sewell has played well in limited action, which is encouraging. He’s currently tied for the team lead in tackles with 14, and he’s likely going to see more snaps in the coming weeks.
We’ll see what the Bears ultimately say, but heading into Week 3, Edwards’ injury outlook isn’t great, as hamstring issues can linger. Still, it’s not as bad as it could be.
Lions Already Fixing Isaac TeSlaa Concern from Week 1 Game
The Detroit Lions dropped the season opener 27-13 to the Green Bay Packers in a divisional contest on Sunday afternoon. In the loss, the offense only mustered 246 total yards of offense, leaving fans wanting more from that unit.
Fans were looking for Isaac TeSlaa after he logged just three total snaps in his debut. Despite that, he still reeled in a 13-yard touchdown on his lone target, showcasing what he can do when the ball is thrown his way.
Fans are being left asking for more of TeSlaa, but head coach Dan Campbell said the team will have him on the field more in the coming weeks. Per Lions reporter Tim Twentyman, Campbell expressed that TeSlaa dealing with an illness and missing practice last week played a role in his usage in Week 1.
Isaac TeSlaa Will See the Field More Going Forward per Dan Campbell
The Lions used the 70th overall pick on TeSlaa this past April, and he was an impressive playmaker throughout the summer. Detroit clearly believed in his talents since they shipped Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in late August.
That cleared the way for TeSlaa to get more opportunities, but Week 1 wasn't the place to do so. As he gets healthy and takes the practice field more consistently, the coaching staff will feel more comfortable throwing him out there.
With Detroit beginning the season on the road against a division rival, Kalif Raymord is the player who played the most snaps as the WR3, logging 44 plays. He didn't do much in those plays, finishing the game with two catches for 19 yards on three targets.
Raymond is better suited as a returner and WR4/5 role. Asking him to be anything more doesn't seem like a reasonable request, which is why TeSlaa will be on the field as this team's WR3 in the coming weeks. He stands at 6-foot-4, along with the speed and ball skills to make some plays downfield.
Scoring a touchdown in just three plays is a glimpse of what the potential could be with him out there more. The Lions have the Chicago Bears next on the docket in Week 2, and could be where fans see TeSlaa's snap count get an uptick.
The Lions know he's the most talented WR on the team behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. And they aren't going to keep him on the sidelines.
