Cornerback Jaylon Johnson took part in a full practice Thursday for the first time since the Chicago Bears opened his 21-day window for a return from injured reserve.

Johnson, who was placed on IR on Sept. 20, has been recovering from groin surgery in late September.

He was a limited participant Wednesday and was upgraded to full participation Thursday. However, it’s likely the Bears are ramping Johnson up for a potential return to action next month.

The Bears must activate him to the 53-man roster by Dec. 5 — two days before they face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field — or he’ll remain on IR for the rest of the season.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection’s return could spark a secondary that has stayed afloat despite being hit hard by injuries, just as the first-place Bears (7-3) get into the thick of a playoff chase.

“He looks great,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said of Johnson. “He looks like he hasn’t missed a step. Definitely excited to have him back.”

Stevenson wouldn’t hazard a guess when Johnson will play. “He’s on his own time — as usual,” he said jokingly.

Johnson wasn’t available to speak with reporters Thursday.

In other injury news, the Bears’ top-three linebackers — Tremaine Edmunds (groin), T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring) and Noah Sewell (elbow) — missed practice for a second straight day. That would leave the Bears thin at that spot with rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, special teamer D’Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga behind them.

The Bears activated Ogbongbemiga (knee) from injured reserve Nov. 6, and he has played in just two games this season.

Left tackle Theo Benedet (quad) popped up on the injury report for the first time this week. Running back and special teamer Roschon Johnson (thumb) popped up, too, as a non-participant.

Some positions got healthier.

Running back D’Andre Swift (hip) was upgraded to a full participant, as was safety Jaquan Brisker (shoulder). Stevenson (hip/calf) remained limited, as did nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon — whose 21-day practice window opened Wednesday as he recovers from calf injury — right tackle Darnell Wright (pectoral/back) and center Drew Dalman (knee).

Meanwhile, the Bears’ Week 14 road game against the Green Bay Packers has been flexed to 3:25 p.m., airing on Fox-32.

Here are three other things we learned Thursday.

1. The pickings are just right for three Bears.

Bears free safety Kevin Byard (31) runs the ball after his interception in the second quarter against the Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Five Bears have interceptions, but three are among the top four in the NFL.

Safety Kevin Byard III leads the league with five, and Edmunds and cornerback Nahshon Wright are tied with Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd for the second-most picks with four.

“Our guys have done a really good job of taking advantage of their opportunities when their opportunities present themselves; they’ve been making the play,” defensive coordinatorDennis Allen said.

Byard had at least five interceptions three other times, including 2017 (career-high eight), 2019 and 2021. Byard was named an All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in ‘17 and ’21.

This season the Bears co-captain made four of his five interceptions on passes in which he wasn’t the targeted defender.

Before he picked off Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Sunday, “there was some pressure that ended up getting to McCarthy, which I think hurried the throw or created an ill-advised throw or whatever the case may be,” Allen said.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to finish a season with three players ranking in the top three in interceptions (including ties) was the Packers in 1942.

2. The running game has been quietly humming.

Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) rushes for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Vikings on Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

The Bears rank second heading into Week 12 with 146.6 yards per game, trailing only the Buffalo Bills at 147.6 ypg.

Of course, both teams’ totals are boosted by Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Bears counterpart Caleb Williams. They rank fifth and 13th, respectively, in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks.

Still, the Bears will take those totals however they come, given it was a slow start to the season.

Running back Kyle Monangai said all involved in the running game — the rushers and blockers — tightened up on fundamentals.

“We all had the belief, we knew we could do it,” he said. “It was just a matter of putting all the pieces together.”

Added offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo: “The main thing we focus on is just having identity out there. … We want to run the ball like this. This is how we want to come off and be seen.”

Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle echoed both sentiments.

“Our pad level, just the mentality of when we call a run play, the attitude that we want to take when we’re attacking the defense,” he said. “You’re starting to see our guys really buy into that and believe it.”

3. Ben Johnson stays steady under pressure.

It’s one thing to examine how Williams has remained unflappable during the Bears’ five fourth-quarter rallies, but it’s another thing to consider there’s a rookie head coach and play-caller facing those same situations.

Related Articles

Chicago Bears may be without top 3 linebackers — including Tremaine Edmunds — in defense’s latest injury snag

NFL flexes Chicago Bears’ Dec. 7 road game vs. Green Bay Packers into late-afternoon window

Chiefs assistant Dave Toub: Donald Trump ‘doesn’t even know what he’s looking at’ on NFL kickoffs

What to know about the Chicago Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field to suburban Arlington Heights

Most Chicagoans want the Bears to stay, poll finds, but don’t want to spend tax dollars for a new stadium

“He’s very comfortable in big moments,” Doyle said. “I know Caleb has been talked about that way, Ben is that way. …

“He very much knows what he wants, how he sees things going. He’s very clear at communicating that. If things change on the fly, he does a great job of communicating that to the staff and the players. That’s what is a separator in those big moments.”

The Bears averaged 6.2 yards per rushing attempt and 15.1 yards per pass (with a 135.4 QB rating) when they’re trailing with two minutes to go, according to Pro Football Reference.

“A lot of these games are won in the last two minutes, and it’s a huge advantage with him on our side,” Doyle said.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/20/chicago-bears-jaylon-johnson-upgrade/