Jaylon Johnson is back.
The Bears cornerback — and perhaps their second-best defensive player, behind linebacker Roquan Smith — did not have an injury designation in Wednesday’s practice, clearing the way for him to start Thursday night against the Commanders.
“He’s looking better and better and better,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
Johnson has missed the past three games after hurting his quad in practice Sept. 22. His return will give a beleaguered Bears defensive backfield a boost after Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins went 32-for-41 for 296 yards and a 94.7 passer rating in Sunday’s 29-22 loss. Cousins completed his first 17 passes.
“Frustrating,” Johnson said. “I had a lot of emotions really. I started kind of pacing really at some point because it’s like I know some of those things would have been prevented if I was out on the field. I feel like a lot of the game would have went totally different.
“But I am really just trying to see the bigger picture and I’ll see them again. So I’m really just focused on this week now an preparing the best way I can for this week.”
Quarterbacks have had a 72.9 passer rating throwing toward Johnson this season. Teams actively avoided Johnson the last two years; this season, they threw passes his direction only four times, and completing two.
Johnson said there were times last year when he lost focus, convinced the ball wasn’t coming his way.
“My biggest thing this year is not thinking like that,” he said. “I feel like there were sometimes last year where I gave up easy plays really having that mindset, ‘Dang, the ball’s not coming.’ Then I give up something cheap.”
Harry healthy, might not play
Receiver N’Keal Harry, who returned to the roster this week after recovering from surgery to fix a high-ankle sprain, also had no injury designation Wednesday. Eberflus, though, wouldn’t say whether he’ll play — or be inactive — Thursday.
“Any time we can add another guy like that to the mix, it’s going to create competition and it’s going to create more athletic ability on the football field for our offense,” Eberflus said. “But we’ll see where he is. We’re not sure.”
Harry said his physicality — “The way I go up and get the ball,” he said — would help the Bears’ offense, particularly in the red zone. But he admitted that he didn’t know whether he’d play.
“That’s not up to me,” he said.
This and that
• The Commanders ruled out two starting pass-catchers — receiver Jahan Dotson (hamstring) and tight end Logan Thomas (calf), Both also missed Sunday’s game. Starting right tackle Sam Cosmi (finger), cornerback William Jackson III (back), running back Jonathan Williams (knee) and safety Percy Butler (quad) won’t play.
• Bears safety Dane Cruikshank (hamstring) practiced in full and is questionable.
