Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson experienced a breakout campaign last season. Johnson's on-field play resulted in a well-deserved contract extension earlier this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles signed him to a four-year, $76 million extension.
Every day, it feels like a new advanced metric is released that captures just how excellent Johnson's 2023 showing was. Pro Football Focus recently released an article that highlighted different tight coverage percentage marks. According to their charting, Johnson finished seventh among all qualifying cornerbacks in step of separation, having allowed it on just 22.7% of his coverage opportunities.
"A big part of Jaylon Johnson’s breakout year was his ability to limit receivers getting a step of separation on him, "PFF's Jim Wyman \x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">Every day, it feels like a new advanced metric is released that captures just how excellent Johnson's 2023 showing was. \x3Ca href=\"https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-cornerbacks-by-separation-darius-slay-leads-in-tight-coverage-while-chiefs-cbs-limit-open-targets-better-than-the-rest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Football Focus\x3C/a> recently released an article that highlighted different tight coverage percentage marks. According to their charting, Johnson finished seventh among all qualifying cornerbacks in step of separation, having allowed it on just 22.7% of his coverage opportunities.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\x3Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Bears\x3C/a> CB Jaylon Johnson allowed very little separation last season \x3Ca href=\"https://t.co/uY1OXm9LzV\">pic.twitter.com/uY1OXm9LzV\x3C/a>\x3C/p>— CFB Vidz (@CFB_Vidz) \x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CFB_Vidz/status/1808141043260334529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 2, 2024\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">\"A big part of Jaylon Johnson’s breakout year was his ability to limit receivers getting a step of separation on him, \"PFF's Jim Wyman \x3Ca href='https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-cornerbacks-by-separation-darius-slay-leads-in-tight-coverage-while-chiefs-cbs-limit-open-targets-better-than-the-rest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote\x3C/a>. \"Johnson allowed a 40% completion rate when allowing a step in coverage, which tied with [Derek] Stingley for best on this list.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">Only six cornerbacks allowed fewer steps of separation to wide receivers last season per opportunity. They were Arthur Maulet (14.3%), Mike Hilton (20%), Jack Jones (20%), Cobie Durant (20.6%), Jalen Ramsey (20.7%), and Chidobe Awuzie (21.1%). Pro Football Focus credited Johnson with allowing just 25 receptions on 50 targets last season. Opposing quarterbacks saw a passer rating of 33.3 (!) when targeting him in coverage.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Opposing wide receivers on the Bears\" 2024 schedule should be prepared for Johnson to play extremely tight coverage on them all season long. That should start with Tennessee Titans wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley in Week 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Jaylon Johnson experienced an incredible breakout campaign for the Chicago Bears in 2023",featured_image_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/jaylon-johnson-original.jpg",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Justin Melo",author_email:"justin.m.melo@gmail.com",author_avatar_url:null,category_names:$R[14]=["News"],tags:$R[15]=["chicago-bears","jaylon-johnson","news","nfl"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,linkedContent:"\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">Chicago Bears cornerback \x3Ca href=\"/player/jaylon-johnson\" class=\"player-link\" data-player=\"jaylon-johnson\">Jaylon Johnson\x3C/a> experienced a breakout campaign last season. Johnson's on-field play resulted in a well-deserved contract extension earlier this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles signed him to a four-year, $76 million extension.\x3C/p>\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">Every day, it feels like a new advanced metric is released that captures just how excellent Johnson's 2023 showing was. \x3Ca href=\"https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-cornerbacks-by-separation-darius-slay-leads-in-tight-coverage-while-chiefs-cbs-limit-open-targets-better-than-the-rest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Football Focus\x3C/a> recently released an article that highlighted different tight coverage percentage marks. According to their charting, Johnson finished seventh among all qualifying cornerbacks in step of separation, having allowed it on just 22.7% of his coverage opportunities.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\x3Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Bears\x3C/a> CB Jaylon Johnson allowed very little separation last season \x3Ca href=\"https://t.co/uY1OXm9LzV\">pic.twitter.com/uY1OXm9LzV\x3C/a>\x3C/p>— CFB Vidz (@CFB_Vidz) \x3Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CFB_Vidz/status/1808141043260334529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 2, 2024\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">\"A big part of Jaylon Johnson’s breakout year was his ability to limit receivers getting a step of separation on him, \"PFF's Jim Wyman \x3Ca href='https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-cornerbacks-by-separation-darius-slay-leads-in-tight-coverage-while-chiefs-cbs-limit-open-targets-better-than-the-rest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote\x3C/a>. \"Johnson allowed a 40% completion rate when allowing a step in coverage, which tied with [Derek] Stingley for best on this list.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp id=\"isPasted\">Only six cornerbacks allowed fewer steps of separation to wide receivers last season per opportunity. They were Arthur Maulet (14.3%), Mike Hilton (20%), Jack Jones (20%), Cobie Durant (20.6%), Jalen Ramsey (20.7%), and Chidobe Awuzie (21.1%). Pro Football Focus credited Johnson with allowing just 25 receptions on 50 targets last season. Opposing quarterbacks saw a passer rating of 33.3 (!) when targeting him in coverage.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Opposing wide receivers on the Bears\" 2024 schedule should be prepared for Johnson to play extremely tight coverage on them all season long. That should start with Tennessee Titans wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley in Week 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"fb3825c4-bbe1-497c-8977-d659316aef64",wp_post_id:11192,title:"Chicago Bears Get Sneaky Advantage Before 2026 NFL Schedule Release",slug:"chicago-bears-get-sneaky-advantage-before-2026-nfl-schedule-release",wp_link:"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/13/chicago-bears-get-sneaky-advantage-before-2026-nfl-schedule-release/",url_date_path:"2026/05/13",published_at:"2026-05-13T14:35:42+00:00",updated_at:"2026-05-13T14:35:45+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears may have caught a major break before the 2026 NFL schedule is even officially released.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054563871692669028?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to ESPN's Adam Schefter\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>, the Bears rank 30th in total projected air miles traveled for the 2026 season. Only two teams are expected to travel less.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>That’s a significant advantage in a league where fatigue, recovery, and routine matter more than ever.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The NFL schedule can quietly shape a season, and fewer travel miles often mean fewer disruptions throughout the year. Less time spent on airplanes leads to more time recovering, more consistent weekly preparation, and a smaller physical toll over a grueling 17-game season.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054563871692669028?s=20\",\"type\":\"rich\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"twitter\",\"responsive\":true} -->\n\x3Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\x3Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054563871692669028?s=20\n\x3C/div>\x3C/figure>\n\x3C!-- /wp:embed -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>For a Chicago team with championship expectations entering Year 2 under Ben Johnson, every edge matters.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The Bears already appear set up favorably from a logistics standpoint. They won’t have to deal with extensive cross-country travel or multiple long road swings that can wear teams down by December and January. That becomes especially important late in the season when injuries pile up and recovery windows shrink.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/13/chicago-bears-avoid-international-game-in-2026-nfl-season/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MORE: Chicago Bears Avoid International Game in 2026 NFL Season\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>It also helps that the Bears are not scheduled for an international game in 2026, avoiding the kind of travel chaos several other franchises will face.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>Travel distance alone won’t determine whether Chicago becomes a true NFC contender, but it’s one more factor working in their favor heading into a pivotal season for Caleb Williams and the rest of the roster.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>Sometimes, the smallest advantages make the biggest difference in January.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:block {\"ref\":9846} /-->",excerpt:"The Chicago Bears received favorable travel news for the 2026 NFL season after ranking near the bottom of the league in projected air miles traveled.",featured_image_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/chicago-bears-helmet-original.jpg",photo_credit:"Denny Medley-Imagn Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_email:"bryanjperez@gmail.com",author_avatar_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bryan-Perez-Author-Image.png",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=["featured"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null},$R[20]={id:"1ede1679-fa25-4201-b2d6-cd9099d08d7b",wp_post_id:11190,title:"Chicago Bears Avoid International Game in 2026 NFL Season",slug:"chicago-bears-avoid-international-game-in-2026-nfl-season",wp_link:"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/13/chicago-bears-avoid-international-game-in-2026-nfl-season/",url_date_path:"2026/05/13",published_at:"2026-05-13T13:41:45+00:00",updated_at:"2026-05-13T13:41:46+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears officially avoided an international trip during the 2026 NFL season.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054548789336146141?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>, the NFL finalized its international game lineup, and the Bears were not among the teams selected to play overseas. That means Ben Johnson’s team will remain stateside for the entire regular season despite speculation earlier this offseason that Chicago could land one of the league’s European showcase games.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>For the Bears, that’s probably a good thing.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054548789336146141?s=20\",\"type\":\"rich\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"twitter\",\"responsive\":true} -->\n\x3Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\x3Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2054548789336146141?s=20\n\x3C/div>\x3C/figure>\n\x3C!-- /wp:embed -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>International games can create travel complications, disrupt weekly preparation routines, and lead to awkward scheduling stretches during the season. With expectations rising around quarterback Caleb Williams entering Year 3 and Johnson beginning his second year as head coach, avoiding an overseas trip removes one potential obstacle from Chicago’s 2026 campaign.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/07/chicago-bears-earn-top-10-ranking-for-2026-nfl-draft-class/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MORE: Chicago Bears Earn Top-10 Ranking for 2026 NFL Draft Class\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>There was some belief that the Bears could be a logical fit for the NFL’s Madrid game because Chicago holds international marketing rights in Spain through the league’s Global Markets Program. Instead, the NFL opted to leave the Bears off the international slate entirely.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>That decision should be welcomed inside Halas Hall.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The Bears already face a challenging 2026 schedule, and staying in the United States for every game gives Johnson one less variable to manage during a pivotal season for the franchise. It may not generate headlines like an overseas matchup would, but from a football standpoint, this is likely the best-case scenario for Chicago.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:block {\"ref\":9846} /-->",excerpt:"The Chicago Bears will not play an international game during the 2026 NFL season, avoiding overseas travel in Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach.",featured_image_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/dcd251102156_chi_vs_cin.jpg",photo_credit:"(Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_email:"bryanjperez@gmail.com",author_avatar_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bryan-Perez-Author-Image.png",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=["featured"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null},$R[23]={id:"96384f6e-5cd6-4c0c-b597-871cc6e3aacd",wp_post_id:11180,title:"Chicago Bears Earn Top-10 Ranking for 2026 NFL Draft Class",slug:"chicago-bears-earn-top-10-ranking-for-2026-nfl-draft-class",wp_link:"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/07/chicago-bears-earn-top-10-ranking-for-2026-nfl-draft-class/",url_date_path:"2026/05/07",published_at:"2026-05-07T14:55:03+00:00",updated_at:"2026-05-13T15:02:38+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>It’s still far too early to know how the Chicago Bears’ 2026 \x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://nfldraftbook.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NFL Draft\x3C/a>\x3C/strong> class will ultimately be remembered, but the early reviews from draft analysts continue trending in the right direction.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>The latest praise came from NFL Draft on SI analyst Justin Melo, \x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/news/ranking-the-best-nfl-draft-classes-from-best-to-worst-grades-predictions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">who ranked the Bears’ draft class No. 10 overall among all 32 NFL teams\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>“Nobody expected Dillon Thieneman to last until No. 25, and the Chicago Bears needed an instant-impact safety after losing Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker,” Melo wrote. “Second-round center Logan Jones is an excellent fit in Ben Johnson’s scheme as an athletic pivot. They arguably reached on Zavion Thomas, who may be a special-teams-only player, though he could develop into an elite returner. Sam Roush was the best blocking tight end in the class, and sixth-round linebacker Keyshaun Elliott has two-down starting potential.”\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>As has been the case since draft weekend, Thieneman remains the centerpiece of Chicago’s class. The former Oregon safety was widely viewed as one of the top defensive backs in the draft, and landing him at No. 25 overall continues to look like one of the better value picks of the first round.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:image {\"id\":11078,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n\x3Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\x3Cimg src=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cgv25091918088_rut_iowa.jpg\" alt=\"Logan Jones Chicago Bears\" class=\"wp-image-11078\"/>\x3Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)\x3C/figcaption>\x3C/figure>\n\x3C!-- /wp:image -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:heading -->\n\x3Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-logan-jones-might-be-chicago-bears-most-important-rookie-in-2026\">\x3Cstrong>Logan Jones Might Be Chicago Bears' Most Important Rookie in 2026\x3C/strong>\x3C/h2>\n\x3C!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>Still, there’s a strong argument that Logan Jones could end up being the Bears’ most important rookie in 2026.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>Chicago signed Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman’s unexpected retirement created a major void at center. But there are still legitimate questions about whether Bradbury is a long-term answer or simply a short-term stabilizer. If Bradbury struggles, the Bears may have little choice but to fast-track Jones into the lineup.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/2026/05/03/chicago-bears-rookie-dillon-thieneman-among-top-selling-jerseys/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MORE: Chicago Bears Rookie Dillon Thieneman Among Top-Selling Jerseys\x3C/a>\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>That scenario might not be a bad thing.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:paragraph -->\n\x3Cp>Jones was viewed by many evaluators as the top center in the 2026 \x3Ca href=\"https://www.nfldraftbook.com\">NFL Draft\x3C/a>. His athletic profile and movement skills make him an especially clean fit in Ben Johnson’s offense. Several draft analysts even compared his game to Dalman’s, which could help ease concerns about whether Chicago’s offensive line can maintain continuity in front of Caleb Williams this season.\x3C/p>\n\x3C!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n\x3C!-- wp:block {\"ref\":9846} /-->",excerpt:"The Chicago Bears continue receiving strong reviews for their 2026 NFL Draft class, including a new top-10 ranking highlighted by Dillon Thieneman and Logan Jones.",featured_image_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Thieneman-NFL-Draft.webp",photo_credit:"Emilee Chinn/Getty Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_email:"bryanjperez@gmail.com",author_avatar_url:"https://www.bearstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bryan-Perez-Author-Image.png",category_names:$R[24]=["News","NFL Draft"],tags:$R[25]=["dillon-thieneman","featured","garrett-bradbury","logan-jones"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:" $year $month $day $slug 2024 07 02 chicago-bears-jaylon-johnson-pro-football-focus"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()
