Overview
- Ben Johnson said he felt "a fire lit under" Jaylon Johnson during the back half of training camp, a change multiple outlets reported in early September.
- Jaylon Johnson said a private talk with Ben Johnson in camp — in which the coach told him the team "got a chance to win the Super Bowl" — triggered a sharper competitive edge and renewed focus.
- Team tracking showed Johnson reach a 21 miles‑per‑hour sprint in camp, and coaches described him as fully healthy as the Bears moved into the regular season.
- Players and coaches said Johnson grew more vocal in practice, once stopping a drill to challenge teammates, and those leadership moves drew public praise from the staff.
- With nickel Kyler Gordon on the PUP list and safety Coby Bryant recovering from a major knee injury, Chicago will rely on Johnson to stabilize coverage in Week 1 at Carolina and beyond.