Starting cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon will be back on the Bears roster in time to face the defending champion Eagles on Friday.
The Bears will activate both from injured reserve later Thursday, NFL Network reported. The Bears had to activate them Thursday for them to be eligible to play Friday.
Both were full participants in practice all week, though coach Ben Johnson was in no rush to make declarations about either.
Slot cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson tipped the team’s hand for Johnson when he praised him Wednesday, calling him one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks.
“I just feel like now he probably get a chance to actually show that, him being active this week, against a great receiving corps,” he said. “I’m excited for him.”
Johnson has played part of only one game this year — Week 2 in Detroit — because of groin injuries that have bothered him since before training camp.
The two-time Pro Bowl player tore the adductor muscle off his pelvic bone while working out at UNLV in July. He hurt a different part of his groin in Week 2 and had surgery. The Bears brought him back to practice earlier this month.
Gordon has played in only two games year. He hurt his hamstring days before the Bears season opener and then was put on IR with a calf injury after the Saints game. He returned to practice a week ago.
NFL rules dictate that players have 21 days from the time they return to practice to be put on the active roster or be lost for the season.