JAYLON JOHNSON FACING ‘BAPTISM UNDER FIRE’
Rookie Jaylon Johnson remains the Bears’ long-term answer at cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller. Artie Burns tearing his left ACL on Tuesday, though, might have hastened Johnson’s timeline.
But does he have enough time to earn the starting job before Week 1? The second-round pick has been limited in practice after recovering from surgery on his right shoulder in early March. With no exhibition games this year, practice is the only chance Johnson has to make an impression.
‘‘We’ve gotta get him out there — he’s just gotta play, and he’s gotta compete,” defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. “Right now, unfortunately, it’s not going to be in preseason games. It’s going to be in situational football, practice reps. If we have live periods, whatever that is, we’ve gotta see him play. And then it’s gonna be baptism under fire for all these young guys.”
While slot cornerback Buster Skrine jumped outside for a bit Tuesday after Burns got hurt, Kevin Toliver will be Johnson’s chief competition. The Bears admire Toliver’s athleticism — he performed well last year against the Packers and Cowboys — but are still waiting for him to master the mental game.
‘‘That’s the part of the game that separates you,” defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said. “And that’s up to him.”