It is standard procedure for NFL teams to start off by playing a number of players on the several lists that will keep them off the practice field (PUP, NFI, etc.) when training camps open. As they recover from last season’s injuries, a sizable portion of those players are also anticipated to end up on those lists.
Star cornerback Jaylon Johnson was placed on the Chicago Bears’ NFI (Non-Football Injury) list as training camp was about to begin. According to general manager Ryan Poles, Johnson is anticipated to miss many weeks of training camp after hurting his leg during offseason training. A “non-football injury” is generally defined as any ailment sustained outside of the team’s facilities.
The team is not “overly concerned” about Johnson, according to Poles, and “we’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back.”
Ben Johnson, the head coach, announced Thursday morning that Johnson is recovering at Halas Hall.
The day before training camp began, the Bears signed veteran cornerback Tre Flowers, but it’s difficult to see him as anything more than a training camp body to fill in for Johnson. Adding a real starting-caliber cornerback could be on the radar if the back-to-back Pro Bowler misses time to start the season, which is as unlikely as it is currently being said.
A seasoned cornerback is presented as authentic. Bears insurance for Jaylon Johnson
Naturally, if someone was clearly a starter with no doubts, they wouldn’t be available when the league’s training camps begin. However, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has suggested the Bears as a top destination for veteran CB Rasul Douglas in light of their unexpected situation with Johnson.
“Cornerback Rasul Douglas didn’t have a great season with the Bills in 2024—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 122.0 in coverage—but he did start 15 games and has been a legitimate difference-maker in the past.”
“Douglas allowed an opposing passer rating of just 38.6 in nine games in 2023, and he recorded 14 interceptions between 2021 and 2023 with the Bills and Green Bay Packers.”
Douglas has been linked to the Miami Dolphins for a few months, and this week, according to a new report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the two parties “remain in active discussion.” In addition to bringing up the Bears, Knox pointed out that it might “behoove” the Dolphins to sign Douglas “sooner rather than later.”
Douglas had a poor 2024 season with the Buffalo Bills, ranking 102nd out of 116 qualified cornerbacks by overall PFF grade, as his former ball-hawking abilities vanished (zero interceptions, five pass breakups). He recorded 40 pass breakups and 14 interceptions in the three seasons prior, with the Green Bay Packers and the Bills.
Although Douglas is growing older, a complete collapse might not be imminent just yet, as he will turn 30 in late August. However, it’s a “what have you done for me lately” league, and Douglas’ performance the previous season was so awful that it nearly erased his three seasons prior.
The Bears haven’t made a noteworthy addition to their cornerback roster, which has supported their stated lack of concern over Johnson. It will be obvious that there is increased concern regarding the team’s best secondary player’s availability for Week 1 if Douglas or someone similar is signed at some time.
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