Ja’Marr Chase Sounds Alarm on ‘Aggressive’ Jaylon Johnson
Bears-Bengals Joint Practice: Star Receivers Battle, Backup QB Shuffle, and Injury Updates
CINCINNATI — The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals held a joint practice Thursday, giving us a sneak peek at how both teams are shaping up before the regular season. Think of it like a scrimmage where two teams practice against each other instead of just their own teammates.
The Main Event: Ja’Marr Chase vs. Jaylon Johnson
The most exciting part of practice was watching two elite players go head-to-head:
- Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals): A superstar wide receiver who, just two years ago, led the entire NFL in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. That’s like being the top scorer, best passer, and best rebounder all at once in basketball.
- Jaylon Johnson (Bears): A top-tier cornerback whose job is to stick to receivers like glue and stop them from catching the ball.
What Happened?
- Chase got open during team drills but didn’t get the ball thrown his way — he was visibly frustrated.
- Johnson played "press coverage" (lining up right in Chase’s face at the line of scrimmage) and was physical.
- Chase’s reaction? He wasn’t impressed. He said: "I get jumped every day. I get jumped for a living. I’ve gotten many yards after getting jumped at the line. That’s not aggressive."
- Translation: Being physical at the line is normal for him — he beats it regularly.
IMPORTANT POINT: Chase’s best catch of the day came against Tyrique Stevenson (another Bears cornerback) on a "jump ball" — a high throw where both players jump for it.
What the Coaches Said
- Ben Johnson (Bears Head Coach): Wants his corners to show "stickiness in coverage" — meaning stay attached to receivers and try to make plays on the ball.
- Dennis Allen (Bears Defensive Coordinator): Noticed Jaylon Johnson looking more like his old self after missing most of last season with groin injuries. "I’ve seen some flashes that say, ‘Man, he’s looking a little bit more like what you expected him to look like.’"
Quarterback Carousel: Bagent Out, Keenum Steps Up
The Situation
| Quarterback | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tyson Bagent (Backup) | OUT | Hamstring injury from Saturday’s preseason game vs. Browns. "Week-to-week" — could return soon or take a while. Didn’t travel to Cincinnati. |
| Case Keenum (Veteran) | IN | Had a perfect 158.3 passer rating vs. Browns. Will get most snaps in Saturday’s preseason game vs. Bengals. |
| Miller Moss (Rookie) | IN | Only other QB on roster. Played behind Caleb Williams at USC. |
What This Means for Saturday’s Game
- Coach Ben Johnson hasn’t officially said if starters will play Saturday.
- Clue: Starters got lots of work in Thursday’s joint practice — often a sign they’ll sit the preseason game.
- Players who played vs. Browns got Sunday off. Bagent didn’t practice Tuesday or Wednesday either.
Injury Report: Who’s Hurting, Who’s Healing
T.J. Edwards (Linebacker) — "Ramping Up"
- Hurt calf training off-site before camp.
- Not doing full practices yet.
- Backstory: Missed 7 games last year with hamstring, then broke leg in playoffs.
- His mindset: "I’m not used to missing anything. So I’m not letting that happen here."
Kyle Monangai (Running Back) — Week-to-Week
- Knee injury during Sunday practice.
- Stayed back at Halas Hall (Bears facility) for rehab.
Elijah Hicks (Safety) — Progressing
- On PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform — a list for players not ready to practice).
- Good news: Wore pads Thursday as part of his return-to-play protocol.
Practice Vibes: Highway Views and Fan Sightings
The Bengals’ outdoor facility has a unique setup:
- Located one block from Paycor Stadium (their game stadium).
- Players walk in cleats from locker room to three practice fields.
- Right under highway overpasses — specifically the end of the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky.
- Fans watched from the bridge! One even squeezed through fencing to get closer.
FUN FACT: Joint practices are free for fans and often have better access than games!
Special Teams Spark: Maurice Alexander Scores
Coach Ben Johnson said he’d watch special teams closely. Message received!
- Maurice Alexander (WR) returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a full-speed drill vs. Bengals.
- Shows the Bears are dangerous in the "third phase" of the game (offense, defense, special teams).
Summary: Key Takeaways
- Elite battle: Chase vs. Johnson was the headline — Chase won the verbal exchange, Johnson held his own physically.
- Jaylon Johnson trending up: Coming back from major injuries, showing flashes of Pro Bowl form.
- QB depth tested: Bagent’s hamstring opens door for Keenum (played great) and rookie Moss.
- Starers likely sitting Saturday: Heavy joint practice workload = probable rest for preseason game.
- Injury management: Edwards being careful after nightmare 2023; Hicks progressing; Monangai week-to-week.
- Special teams bonus: Alexander’s TD return shows coaching emphasis paying off.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. What is a "joint practice" anyway?
Two NFL teams practice together instead of against their own teammates. It’s more intense, simulates real games better, and lets coaches evaluate players against different competition. No tackling to the ground — "thud" tempo only.
2. Why was Ja’Marr Chase mad if he got open?
Getting open is only half the battle — the QB has to see you and throw it to you. In practice, QBs often go through progressions (reads) and may not target the open guy if the play design goes elsewhere. Chase wants the ball — that’s what great receivers do.
3. What does "week-to-week" mean for injuries?
It means the team evaluates the player each week to see if they can play. No set timeline — could be one week, could be four. Daily/weekly updates based on how the body responds.
4. Why would starters sit a preseason game after practicing hard?
Joint practices give starters controlled, high-quality reps against another team’s starters without the injury risk of a live game. Coaches get film, players get work, then they rest for the real games that count.
5. What’s a "perfect passer rating" (158.3)?
The NFL’s quarterback rating formula maxes out at 158.3. To get it, a QB must complete 77.5%+ of passes, average 12.5+ yards per attempt, throw TDs on 11.875%+ of attempts, and zero interceptions. Case Keenum did exactly that vs. Browns — incredibly rare!
Final Thought: Joint practices are where the "real" evaluation happens before the season. The Bears got good news (Johnson returning to form, Keenum playing lights out) and manageable challenges (Bagent injury, Edwards’ slow ramp-up). Now we wait for Saturday’s game — likely a showcase for backups and rookies fighting for roster spots!