NFL leading receiver was impressed with Jaylon Johnson
Cooper Kupp had a great season in 2021, but even he had to plan for Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson. Kupp led the NFL last season in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. There weren’t many cornerbacks that seemed to bother Kupp on his way to winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.
If Kupp was bothered by Johnson when playing the Bears last season, his stat line doesn’t show much of it. Kupp caught seven passes for 108 yards and recorded one receiving touchdown. The Rams would route the Bears 34-14 in week 1.
On the Dan Patrick Show, Patrick asked Kupp what defensive backs were the best Kupp had recently faced. Kupp named Johnson as a particular test.
“Early on when we played against Jaylon Johnson with the Bears. I thought he was a guy that would come up and challenge you,” Kupp said. “I mean you had to have a plan for him.”
Johnson has had an interesting offseason
Since the new regime came in, Johnson’s name has been popular in national and local headlines. The 2020 second-round pick saw the Bears draft cornerback Kyler Gordon with their first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Last week, head coach Matt Eberflus told the media Johnson was getting reps with the second team. Eberflus said not to read too much into the decision during OTA’s. Per multiple reports, Kindle Vildor was working with the first team.
Johnson told Jim Rome last week the bump wasn’t a “problem” for the third-year cornerback. “I don’t want to say it didn’t bother me. But at the end of the day, it’s not anything I’m going to give too much energy to,” Johnson said.
I’d fully assume Johnson will be starting on the Bears’ defense when the season starts. Kupp’s praise is a likely indication of how other NFL receivers feel about him. And right now, Kupp’s voice carries a lot of weight.
Johnson has had a history of success. Since coming into the league, Johnson has recorded 71-solo tackles and had 24 passes defended. He’s too valuable to be watching Vildor give up territory to the Kupps of the NFL.
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