Injury update
Johnson announced that third-year cornerback Terell Smith is out for the season with a knee injury he sustained in Sunday night's victory. A 2023 fifth-round pick from Minnesota, Smith provided depth and play-making ability in the secondary.
"We're all rallying around him and supporting him," Johnson said.
Seeing growth
Johnson has been pleased with the strides that players have made in training camp, but the first-year coach knows that the process is only just beginning.
"You see growth in each and every one of them," Johnson said. "I always start with the fundamentals and the technique of each position. I think you see it. [But] it needs to still continue to improve because it's not going to be a finished product in September.
"We'll be playing our best ball in December and January and so we're still in that race to play with better pad level, to tackle better in space, have better eye discipline on defense. There are things like that that show up each and every week that we continue to hone in on and talk about."
Johnson has seen major improvement across the board since offseason workouts.
"We didn't look like a team that's going to win many games this year, and yet now, just to see where we've come, we've made tremendous strides in that regard," he said. "I'm encouraged with where we're at."
Aiming high
The defense has lofty expectations in Dennis Allen's first season as coordinator.
"Our goal is to be top five in everything," said defensive tackle Andrew Billings. "If we are top five in everything, we are going to win a lot of games."
Billings has enjoyed playing for the no-nonsense Allen, a highly respected veteran coach who instills belief in his players.
"He's consistent with everybody," Billings said. "Nobody's special. He'll get into you, but he'll let you know he has confidence in you going out there doing the right thing. He doesn't leave it at, 'You messed up.' It's like, 'You messed up, but you've done it before.' He'll show you the tape of you doing it right."
Helping hand
Billings, a nine-year NFL veteran, remained on the field after a recent practice to work with inexperienced first-year defensive tackle Jonathan Ford.
"When I was a young player, I didn't get much of that," Billings said. "But as we are getting towards the end of preseason, a lot of guys just want to make sure they are doing everything the right way. Make sure they are putting good film out there not only for us the Bears, but also all the other teams out there.
"So, if a young guy asks me to work on something, we can go out there and work. I don't have a problem with that."
Not receiving much assistance from veterans early in his career motivates Billings to mentor young teammates.
"Yes, it does," he said. "Let's actually help these guys and not call it a day and go inside. These guys, they really want a job anywhere. Let's help them get it."
On an island
Billings found himself in an unusual position at the end of last Thursday's practice: The 6-1, 311-pounder was lined up in pass coverage across from 6-4, 315-pound right guard Jonah Jackson in a 1-on-1 drill pitting offensive linemen as receivers versus defensive linemen as cornerbacks.
Jackson beat Billings deep but was unable to haul in Williams' pass. On Wednesday, Billings broke down the play like he's been a defensive back his entire career.
"My thought was, 'inside leverage,'" Billings said. "I didn't want him breaking in and catching an easy ball. He decided to run a go route. I was like, 'OK, he beat me off the line. But I'm going to run at you and act like I'm about to hit you so you're not going to catch it.' It's mental after that."