Jaylon Johnson hasn’t experienced much team success during his time with the Chicago Bears. They’ve never finished above .500 since he arrived in 2020, and they’ve only won nine games over the past two years. He wants to win as much as anybody. Combine that with his contract coming up, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Johnson play his best in 2023. However, to reach his goal, he will also need help from his quarterback. Justin Fields faces plenty of questions of his own. Many out there aren’t sure he can reach that next level.
Don’t count Johnson among them. He has watched the QB go through grueling trials over the past two years. Such an experience would’ve broken many players. Fields seems to only gain motivation from them. He’s working harder than ever before, and it’s starting to show on the field. Johnson told Keyshawn, JWill and Max on ESPN that he doesn’t just expect a big step forward from Fields. He envisions the player that made him a future superstar in the first place.
“I expect him to shine. I think it’s one thing to come in rookie year and learn a new system then have to go into a new system. He never really got a chance to be comfortable. I think for him now he’s finally having a chance to get comfortable. He has some new guys. Everything’s in an upward projection for him.”
Once he gets comfortable, which I think he is extremely comfortable now and extremely confident, he can be very dangerous. You’ll see a lot of that dominant quarterback play that you saw at Ohio State.”
Jaylon Johnson knows what Fields can do.
He showed in college that when he has adequate protection, he can tear the heart out of opposing defenses through the air. There were glimpses of it in 2021. Unfortunately, his progress was hampered last year by a scheme change and downgrades at both wide receiver and the offensive line. Both problems have been addressed this off-season. Darnell Wright and Nate Davis should beef up the protection. D.J. Moore provides the team with a legitimate top-tier weapon at receiver. It is easily the best supporting cast he’s had in three years.
If the Bears do indeed get “Ohio State” Fields this year, they’re going to win lots of games. Jaylon Johnson will be ready to do his part. He will rejoin the team this coming week after taking care of family and charity business last month. The defense has undergone some renovations of its own in his absence. The front seven has improved, while the secondary has even more depth than before. Johnson can help his own cause by producing more takeaways this year.
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