Typically, quarterback Justin Fields is the most exciting player on the field for the Bears. And while that was once again true in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, cornerback Jaylon Johnson also put on quite a show in his battle with Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
Johnson had his best game of the season, notching three pass breakups on Brown in key situations that ended drives for Philadelphia. It was a back-and-forth battle, and it was exciting to watch two young studs go at it.
If you ask Johnson, the battle was a draw.
“I thought the matchup went really good,” Johnson said, via Brad Biggs. “To a certain extent, there’s not too much I can do. I know I was in position every play. Sometimes it’s just a good ball and then sometimes I won. I feel like the matchup was pretty even. Heck of a battle.”
Brown called Johnson a “great corner.” Adding, it was a “good battle today. Got a lot of respect for him.”
While Johnson had his best outing of the season, he still thinks he could’ve been better. Surely there are things Johnson wants back, but he said he made Brown “work for every catch.”
“I’m a dog, I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor,” Johnson said. “If you ask me, I still didn’t play up to my standards. I don’t give up big plays and I gave up a few. At the end of the day, it happens. (Shoot), I’m going to be in his face, I’m going to challenge him, I’m going to be there every time. Sometimes it goes my way.
“It’s tough when you’ve got a good quarterback dropping dimes. Hey, at the end of the day, I’m playing monkey in the middle, but I know damn well he’s going to work for every catch. And I feel that’s what I did. I competed. I made some plays and I gave up some. That’s the life of a cornerback.”
Unfortunately, Johnson’s afternoon was cut short after he suffered a rib injury in the fourth quarter. Johnson said he was “hurting” after the game, and it sounds like his status for Saturday’s game against the Bills is in question.
But if Johnson can suit up against Buffalo, he’ll have another chance to prove himself against another top wideout in Stefon Diggs.
