Jaylon Johnson’s postgame outburst aimed at former head coach Matt Eberflus after the Chicago Bears’ loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving was a flashpoint moment.
On Friday, Johnson addressed the media after practice. He candidly spoke about several items, including things that he tells his younger teammates who have not endured the kind of turmoil they have experienced this season.
Like Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker who, Johnson noted, are heading into contract years.
Bears’ Jaylon Johnson Gives Advice to Extension-Eligible Teammates
Jaylon Johnson Has Been in Jaquan Brisker & Kyler Gordon’s Shoes
Brisker and Gordon were both second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, taken with picks Nos. 48 and 39, respectively. They have one season left on their four-year rookie pacts—Gordon at $8.7 million and Brisker at $7.3 million.
Johnson said it is key for the players to lock in because there is a good chance more changes are coming even if interim head coach Thomas Brown sticks.
Asked if he relayed that message to his teammates, Johnson confirmed and took it further.
“That’s definitely been talked about for sure,” Johnson told Clocker Sports after practice on Friday. “Some of the guys are fairly new to this. Kyler and Jaquan, they’ve been around. But they’re going to go into a new season of having to re-establish themselves; especially them leaving their third year, going into their fourth year trying to get a contract and things like that.
“It’ll be a similar situation I have for myself, having to re-audition and prove yourself again. So definitely having those conversations telling the guys – especially the DB group. We got a lot of young guys, so just letting them know that, ‘Hey, it’s going to be different. So make sure that you’re doing the right things in the building, all around. Because it all matters at the end of the day. Not just what you do on the field, but off the field as well.”
Brisker has notably been sidelined since Week 5 in concussion protocol and on injured reserve since Week 11. Following Eberflus’ firing, Brisker shared a post on X that said, “God don’t make mistakes.”
Gordon cited that message when asked about his own postgame comments.
Both players have dealt with injuries, but so did Johnson, who was vocal about his contract desires before he inked his four-year, $76 million extension during the 2024 offseason.
However, that only came after Johnson requested a trade last October.
It does not sound like that was part of his advice to his teammates. Brisker urged the team to pay Johnson before they did. And teammates have cited Johnson’s leadership even as this season unfolded.
Still, it is a noticeable precedent set in that locker room with so much still hanging in the balance for many in the building at Halas Hall.
DJ Moore Has 3-Word Reaction to Question About Bears’ Energy
Along with Johnson, Moore has been one of the more vocal players in the Bears’ locker room since his arrival, whether it be with his support for former quarterback Justin Fields or his surprise about some of the missteps by the team during this season.
Moore missed Brown in Carolina with the Panthers by one season. But he is among the players who believe the change has been positive.
Asked how he has seen the energy shift post-coaching change, Moore said just listen.
“You hear it,” Moore told Clocker Sports on Friday. “It’s like a brighter day in here. I know we still got time to go put some wins out there and stack them, so that’s what everybody’s looking forward to.”
Moore has benefitted as much as anyone from the change at offensive coordinator from Shane Waldron to Thomas Brown.
Moore had 40 receptions for 398 yards and 3 touchdowns on 66 targets through nine games.
Over the past three weeks, he has caught 22 of 30 targets for 265 yards and 2 scores. He has also carried the ball twice for 18 yards after gaining just as much on five carries through that nine-game stretch.
.@CALEBcsw with a dime to @idjmoore 😮💨
📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/TUZzXawnf7
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 28, 2024
Now, Moore steps into an offense called by his long-time coach in Bears interim OC Chris Beatty, who also had ties to Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett before coming to Chicago.
Bears Get Good News on Injury Front
Moore’s availability for the media bodes well for the game. He had missed both practice sessions to start the week before getting in a limited session on Friday. He is officially listed as questionable but was upbeat in the locker room and said he usually plays “through everything.”
Starting running back D’Andre Swift followed an identical pattern this week.
That is good news. Top backup Roschon Johnson is out with a concussion and former starter Khalil Herbert is in Cincinnati with the Bengals.
Retread additions Darrynton Evans and Demetric Felton could see work behind incumbent Travis Homer who received a vote of confidence from Brown on Friday. Still, for a team looking to right the ship against an admittedly depleted Super Bowl runner-up in the 49ers, it is all hands on deck.
The Bears will also be without backup safety Elijah Hicks for the second straight week.
D'Andre Swift & DJ Moore both questionable after getting in a limited practice to close the week. No Roschon Johnson. But Keenan Allen, Kevin Byard, Coleman Shelton, & Darnell Wright all clear. #Bears #DaBears https://t.co/F50NmvVYbm pic.twitter.com/viaIq7xKEZ
— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) December 6, 2024
He was filling in for Brisker and has been replaced by veteran free-agent addition Jonathan Owens.