Bears News: Johnson on being named team captain: “I didn’t believe it honestly” |
CHICAGO - Lock-down corner Jaylon Johnson, who is coming off the best season of his career, was announced as one of Chicago’s team captains for the 2024 season as voted by the players.
This is Johnson’s first time being chosen as a team captain for the season. “Honestly, it’s big. I was surprised … I didn’t believe it, honestly,” Johnson said. “But, I mean, kind of just one of those things (I) continue to be myself. Nothing changes … Just continue to work and continue to lead by example. I feel like that’s the biggest thing. But really, just, for the most part, continue to lead the guys … continue to be more vocal. The goals and the things I want to do don’t change because of that. But, definitely honored to have the C on my chest.” With the exception of long-snapper Patrick Scales, no player has been with the Bears longer than Johnson. So, he has seen a lot of change and had to build chemistry with numerous players throughout his four years in the league thus far. Now, he is on one of the best defenses in the NFL, which is expected to be coupled with one of the better offenses in the league, something new for Johnson. Despite all of the new players head coach Matt Eberflus has brought on in both sides of the ball, Johnson feels that the team has gelled together nicely, in part because of their common goal of winning. “I think we just all have a common goal. I feel like we’ve had guys that have come from different places that have won but not won at all. (Linebacker) TJ (Edwards), he went to the Super Bowl and didn’t quite win it. (Linebacker) Tremaine (Edmunds has) been in I don’t know how many AFC championships, and (wide receiver) Keenan (Allen), they won, and he played with Phillip Rivers at a high level,” Johnson said. “I feel like it’s a lot of guys that have been in different positions that know what it takes, know what it looks like to win, and I feel like we all know that we have that, and I think just want to continue to push each other to be better, continue to gel together. I feel like we just all have a like-minded mentality when it comes to winning, when it comes to hard work. So, I just want to continue to build on that. I think it’s easy to be motivated with guys that you’re like-minded with and I think we all have (a similar) mentality when it comes to winning.” After the season he had last year, offenses do not want to throw the ball his way. That was evident even in the preseason as offenses seemed to make a purposeful effort of throwing the ball away from Johnson. While he may not have been selected to the Top 100 list by the players in the league, the fact they will not throw to him shows respect for his game. This elevated level of respect for Johnson after last season may result in fewer targets coming in his direction, which makes sense, given opposing quarterbacks had a 50.9 quarterback rating against him in 2023. Although he may have fewer chances to make plays on the ball this season, Johnson says his mentality is the same. “I think for me, my mentality, regardless of whether I get targets or not, is complete dominance, and I don’t need to have the ball thrown for a receiver to know that he was never open. So, I think for me, if I don’t get the ball thrown my way if I do, my mentality is if they do throw it, it’s a wasted rep for them,” Johnson said. “So, I mean, for me, I expect to win every rep, every one-on-one, everything every chance I get. I don’t expect to lose. I don’t think I’m (going to) lose. So, every snap, I’m going into it thinking that the ball’s coming, and if it does, then it’s an L for them.” Offensively, he has been going against a rookie quarterback throughout training camp. Despite Caleb Williams being a rookie, he has impressed players on both sides of the ball, including Johnson. That is why it was unsurprising that Williams was also named one of Chicago’s team captains this season. “(He) just (continues) to come in here and I feel like he (is) who we want him to be,” Johnson said. “I feel like we know why we brought him in here, and I feel he just (continues) to go that, (continues) to walk in those shoes and just continue to reset the bar for himself. I feel it’s just a step in the right direction for him. But, I don’t think it’s a bit of (a) surprise coming in here, being QB1.” The rest of the Bears’ team captains for this season are Edmunds, Edwards, tight ends Cole Kmet and Marcedes Lewis, wide receiver DJ Moore, and safety Kevin Byard. Chicago’s regular season will start against the Tennessee Titans on Sun. Sept. 8 (Noon / FOX). Currently, Tennessee’s top receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, is questionable with a knee injury he sustained during practice.
