Jaylon Johnson wasn’t so certain Wednesday afternoon on whether a second trip to the Pro Bowl would be in the cards for him.
“I’m always hopeful,” Johnson said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t work out.”
That’s just the way it often goes during a last-place season with so many more team lowlights than triumphs for the Chicago Bears. But on Thursday morning, Johnson’s spirits lifted. He was named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster as the Bears’ lone representative. The other NFC cornerbacks honored: Minnesota Vikings’ Byron Murphy, Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon and Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn.
Through 16 games, Johnson has two interceptions and seven passes defensed plus seven tackles for loss. He has remained one of the league’s most reliable cornerbacks, frequently forcing opposing quarterbacks to throw away from him.
According to Pro Football Reference, Johnson has been targeted just 52 times this season, tied for 113th most in the NFL. On those passes, he has allowed 34 completions for 461 yards and two touchdowns with an opposing quarterback rating of 90.3.
Johnson had a much more impressive season in 2023, recording four interceptions and limiting opposing quarterbacks to a 50.9 rating on balls thrown his way. Still, he played well enough this year to earn a return to the Pro Bowl.
On Wednesday, before the rosters were announced, Johnson was asked whether he felt his season had merited that honor.
“It’s been solid,” he said. “It’s hard (to be recognized) with limited targets. I’m looking at the whole body of work. It’s hard to make plays on the ball when you barely get targeted. Just with that itself, that’s what (often) gets you the Pro Bowl votes — making plays, having those interceptions and numbers and things like that. But I feel like overall I have played solid. I definitely could’ve done some things better. But I did a lot of good, too.”
With 44 players selected from each conference, the Pro Bowl will take place in Orlando, Fla., culminating with a Feb. 2 flag football exhibition.
In the NFC North, Johnson was one of 17 players honored. The Detroit Lions had a conference-best seven players selected to the Pro Bowl, including five on offense: quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, left tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow. The Vikings had six players honored and the Green Bay Packers had three.