Bears CB Jaylon Johnson missing OTAs is minor issue, for now

Don’t sound the alarm on the Jaylon Johnson situation. It’s way too early for that. The Bears have two months until the start of training camp, as well as the season, to secure their top cornerback.

But it is concerning that in an offseason in which Johnson is seeking a contract extension, he wasn’t at practice Tuesday as the Bears went through organized team activities. Coach Matt Eberflus wouldn’t say if he had been at Halas Hall at all for the offseason workout program.

OTAs are voluntary, and Eberflus mentioned that several times as a shield against direct questions about Johnson. The few comments he made were measured but telling.

When asked if Johnson was fully recovered from the rib and finger injuries that kept him out of the last three games of 2022, Eberflus said, “He’s good to go.”

He shot down the notion that this could bubble up into a bigger issue — like when former Bears linebacker Roquan Smith sat out training camp last year — but when pressed on whether Johnson had committed to attend mandatory minicamp June 13-15, Eberflus said they discussed it but declined to answer.

“Ask him when you see him,” he said.

Maybe that’ll be any day. Maybe for minicamp. Maybe longer. Eberflus left it murky, and Johnson’s agent didn’t respond to a message seeking clarity.

While OTAs certainly are optional, most players around the league participate unless they’re injured or frustrated with their contract. Johnson has far outplayed his four-year, $6.5 million rookie deal. He believes he’s one of the NFL’s elite corners and undoubtedly wants an extension on that level.

But it often has been difficult to gauge his standing in the organization. When the Bears cleaned house and brought in Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles, Johnson skipped the voluntary minicamp the Bears held in April. Teams get those to help with the transition when they hire a new coach.

When he reported for OTAs the next month, the Bears started him out at second string even though he was their only proven cornerback.

When Johnson saw Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander sign a record-breaking four-year, $84 million contract last year, he called it “a hell of a deal” and smiled, knowing it would drive up what he could ask for when talks started with the Bears.

There has long been concern that Johnson and the team might disagree on his value when they reached this stage, but Poles reiterated his intent to solidify Johnson as a key part of his young, high-potential crew at cornerback.

“I hope he’s a guy we get to keep here for a while,” Poles said.

Johnson’s situation isn’t a problem at this point, and quarterback Justin Fields brushed off his absence by saying, “We know what he can do on the field. He’s proven it many times against top receivers. Not really worried about it too much.”

But the sooner the Bears resolve this issue the better. The stakes are higher than they were with Smith, who got traded in the middle of the season and signed a $100 million deal with the Ravens. Johnson plays a premium position, he’s 24 and he’s a verified talent.

And unlike last season when there were minimal expectations during the roster teardown, the Bears are looking to make a significant jump. They’ll need Johnson. With him, Kyler Gordon and second-round pick Tyrique Stevenson, the Bears could have their best cornerback group in years. And they could keep it intact for a long time.

That’s a big-picture goal, and, as of now, this is merely an unexplained absence from a spring practice. It’s a minor interruption, and it’s up to Poles and Eberflus to keep it from becoming anything more.