The Chicago Bears positioned cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.
The strikes depart the Bears with out two of their prime three cornerbacks for the ultimate three video games, with solely rookie Kyler Gordon left as a typical starter.
The group activated working again Khalil Herbert from IR, establishing a return from a four-game absence due to a hip damage Saturday towards the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Johnson suffered a rib damage, and he additionally has a damaged bone in his left hand, over which he wore a membership whereas training this week. Vildor has been coping with an ankle damage that stored him out the final two video games.
On Thursday, the Bears listed Johnson as questionable to play, and coach Matt Eberflus stated, “It’s just really more about his hand and if he feels he’s functional with it. We’re just working through that.”
Instead, the 2020 second-round decide, one of many Bears’ greatest younger defensive gamers, ends his season with 35 tackles, seven passes defended, one sort out for a loss, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration in 11 video games. Vildor, additionally in his third season, performed in 11 video games with 34 tackles, two tackles for a loss, 5 passes defended and an interception.
Their absences will probably be one other blow to a Bears secondary that already misplaced veteran security Eddie Jackson to a left foot damage.
Last week, the Bears allowed Eagles huge receiver A.J. Brown to make 9 catches for 181 yards and DeVonta Smith to make 5 catches for 126 yards. Without Johnson, they now must tackle Bills huge receiver Stefon Diggs, who ranks third within the NFL with 99 catches for 1,299 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“He’s really crafty,” Johnson stated of Diggs. “He’s a really good route-runner. He creates a lot of separation with his releases. He’s very dynamic with his route-running. And it also helps having a quarterback (Josh Allen) who can throw the ball a million yards. And their chemistry is building and building since they’ve been there.”
Undrafted rookies Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell might see extra time on protection with Johnson and Vildor performed. The Bears additionally moved defensive backs Harrison Hand and Breon Borders to the lively roster.
Jones has performed nearly all of defensive snaps the final two video games and had 13 tackles. Blackwell, a key particular teamer, performed 51 defensive snaps in Week 13 towards the Green Bay Packers and had 5 tackles.
While Blackwell’s contributions on protection have been restricted, particular groups coordinator Richard Hightower on Wednesday raved about what Blackwell has given his models.
“The thing about him is he’s hungry and he still wants more,” Hightower stated. “To get a guy like that where we got him (off waivers), without working with him in the offseason, I’m excited to work with him in the offseason. And quite frankly, I think he should be in the discussion for a Pro Bowl-type player. It’s not being talked about. It’s not being said. But he is playing at a Pro Bowl level. Every coordinator comes up and talks to me about how good of a player Josh Blackwell is and where did you find him.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com