Jaylon Johnson Faces a Huge Week 1 Test Against Tetairoa McMillan
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Chicago Bears heading into Week 1, but one player who could have a major impact on the season is cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
On Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson praised Johnson's strong finish to training camp. According to Chris Emma of 670 The Score, he said, "I could feel a fire lit under him. I don't know what it was, but you could feel really ignite there back half of training camp. I think he's been really strong. ... From my perspective, I think we got a player who's got a chance to be playing his best football this year."
Johnson starts the season with a huge test on Sunday against the Panthers second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan. It will be an early opportunity for Johnson to show that he's healthy and ready to return to his best.
Jaylon Johnson vs. Tetairoa McMillan Is a Huge Matchup
The veteran cornerback won't have much of a chance to ease into the season before facing his first major challenge: Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan provided a spark to the Carolina Panthers' offense last season and won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
In 2025, he recorded 70 receptions on 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. While Johnson was able to lock down Ja'Marr Chase during joint practices, Sunday's game will be his first opportunity to play a full workload against live competition. Though joint practices are probably the closest thing to a game, they are still controlled environments.
At 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds, McMillan is a big, physical receiver who can present matchup problems for any cornerback. Right out of the gate, this will be a major test for Johnson, who has said he is looking to return to his 2023 form.
Going up against a receiver with McMillan's size in Week 1 will test more than just Johnson's coverage ability. It could also give the Bears an early indication of how comfortable he looks moving and competing physically after an injury-riddled 2025 season.
Johnson doesn't necessarily need to completely erase McMillan for the matchup to be considered a success. But if he can limit the Panthers' top receiver and make him work for every catch, it would be an encouraging start to his 2026 season.
The Bears Need Their CB1
The way Johnson starts the season is very important. There are already plenty of questions about Chicago's secondary after Coby Bryant's injury and Kyler Gordon's absence.
If Johnson can show he is returning to form, it will help ease some of those concerns. If he is able to lock down receivers again this season, it will allow Dennis Allen to scheme other ways for his secondary to help win games.
Even after all the praise the coaching staff has given the defensive line, many Bears fans are still skeptical that they will actually produce. Having Johnson play at the top of his game would give the defensive line more time to get home because Allen wouldn't have to constantly provide extra help in coverage.
That could be especially important early in the season. If Johnson can consistently handle an opposing team's top receiver, Allen has more freedom to bring pressure, disguise coverages and move his other defensive backs around.
This was part of the reasoning Ryan Poles gave when he was asked why the Bears didn't pursue any big-name pass rushers this past offseason. The idea was that Chicago believed its existing defensive pieces could produce with better health and coaching.
Now, with injuries already affecting the secondary, having Johnson live up to that belief becomes even more important.
The Bears don't need Johnson to be perfect every week. But if he can get back to playing like the Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback Chicago knows he can be, it could make the entire defense better.
Week 1 Could Tell Us a Lot About Jaylon Johnson
If Sunday doesn't go Johnson's way, fans shouldn't panic yet. One game is too small of a sample to make that judgment.
However, a strong outing will make Bears fans more confident in Johnson the rest of the season. It will also provide an early indication of where he is physically and how much the team can rely on him.
Facing McMillan right away makes this an especially interesting test. If Johnson looks comfortable, moves well and makes life difficult for Carolina's top receiver, it would be an encouraging sign for a Bears defense that needs him to be one of its most reliable players.
Ben Johnson believes in his cornerback, so Bears fans should, too.
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