Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson experienced plenty of ups and downs throughout the 2025 NFL season, and he shared what those obstacles looked like in a recent interview.
Jaylon Johnson is one of the best corners in the NFL when healthy, but the Chicago Bears' cornerback was far from that during the 2025 NFL season.
Johnson, 26, tore his adductor off his pelvic bone during a private summer workout that forced him to miss training camp and the preseason. He played in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, but he sustained a core muscle injury in the loss, forcing him to go on injured reserve.
The veteran corner returned in Week 13 and ramped up the rest of the way to finish out the season.
Although the Bears experienced success in 2025, Johnson went through one of his toughest seasons in his career.
Johnson sat down with journalist Megan Armstrong and detailed his journey in a Q&A for "the small bow." The interview details Johnson's mindset in how he dealt with sex addiction and the physical battels he went through because of injuries.
Encourage Bears fans to read the entire article, but this snapshot will focus on Johnson's physical battles that he shared with the small bow.
Johnson shared that physical pain wasn't a big deal, it was how his injuries impacted him.
"I’m used to playing the game a certain way," Johnson told the small bow. "I think it starts to weigh on you when you can’t perform, or you can’t perform how you want to perform — how you know you can perform. That started to weigh on me because, even when I did come back, I was taking numbing shots. I was taking all the pain medications. I was trying to do it all so I could play. You start to second-guess yourself. Those mental battles hurt more than the physical pain."
Those mental and physical limitations caused Johnson to experience some low points in the season, starting with the Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers until the end of the regular season. Johnson said he was confident in the first game but experiencing pain, which led to doubt and hesitation.
During that five-game stretch to close out the 2025 regular season, Johnson allowed 10 receptions for 165 yards.
However, Johnson did finally feel like himself again in the wild card game. Johnson mentioned the cornerback position is about finding a rhythm, which is tough to do when with limited reps.
"I would take time before or after practice to do different movements and visualize," Johnson said. "When I got into the game, I had my rhythm mentally, and my body was able to follow better. The playoff game is when I just kept talking to myself, like, Man, you’re one of the best to do it. You just got to go out there and do it."
In the playoff game against Green Bay, Johnson gave up three receptions on six targets for 75, but had a shutout performance in the Divisional Round versus the Las Angeles Rams. Johnson was targeted just once in the loss to the Rams.
Now Johnson has his sights on the 2026 season and everything he can accomplish.
"I’m definitely looking forward to next season," Johnson said. "I’m very transparent with myself and others about where I’m at. I’m about to be 27. I’m going on my seventh year. I’ve been with the Bears for seven years. They paid me. I know I can still play the game. So now I know I’m not only playing for the Bears, but I’m also playing for myself."