The Chicago Bears will not activate CB Jaylon Johnson and CB Kyler Gordon off injured reserve ahead of the team’s Week 12 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Twitter.
Bears defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson – both questionable for Sunday vs. Pittsburgh – won’t be activated this week, per sources.
But the team is hopeful that both could come off IR for next week against Philly if all goes well.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 22, 2025
Neither Johnson nor Gordon has logged much game action this season. Johnson has only suited up in the Bears’ Week 2 game against the Detroit Lions before suffering a groin injury. At the same time, Gordon played in the team’s Week 6 and Week 7 matchups before being sidelined with a calf injury.
Gordon has been Chicago’s starting slot corner, while Johnson operates on the outside. Chicago has pieced things together with CB Nahshon Wright on the outside, who has four interceptions this season, while the recently signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been playing in the slot. Given that the Bears are down their top three inside linebackers with Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell out against Pittsburgh, not having help come back in the secondary with the return of Johnson and Gordon is a blow for Chicago’s defense.
Last season, Johnson had two interceptions and eight passes defensed, and he had four interceptions in 2023. Gordon had five interceptions in his first two seasons in 2022 and 2023, but didn’t have one in 15 games last season, although he did have five passes defensed.
Johnson was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 and made the Pro Bowl last season. CB Tyrique Stevenson was also on the injury report this week, but he practiced in full on Friday and has no injury designation for Sunday. Johnson practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, while Gordon was limited early in the week but practiced in full on Friday.
The Bears opened Johnson’s 21-day window last week and opened Gordon’s this week. As Fowler reported, Chicago expects both to be ready to go for next week, but the Steelers will avoid playing both.
Chicago will have Wright and Stevenson start on the outside with Jaylon Jones and Nick McCloud as backup options. Gardner-Johnson will likely remain as the starter in the slot, with Josh Blackwell also an option to get slot reps.
With Pittsburgh potentially without QB Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers will have an easier path to throwing the football with Chicago’s top two options at cornerback remaining on the sideline.
Recommended for you