Chicago Bears face a fragile defensive slate heading into Sunday's trip to Detroit. Johnson, Edwards and Gordon were listed as questionables after Monday's defeat, with Gordon's hamstring tightness surfacing late and prompting an injury report addition. The group tested injuries before warmups, and the secondary and punt coverage suffered as a result.

Roster moves add to the uncertainty: Tre Flowers was cut from the practice squad and Dallis Flowers joined the Bears’ practice squad, while Josh Blackwell sat out. The Wednesday injury report will shape how Chicago plans to cover Lions pass-catchers and stabilize special-teams again at Ford Field.

Monday Night Football opens Week 1 with Minnesota traveling to Chicago in a marquee NFC showdown. Harrison Smith is out for Minnesota, while Justin Jefferson is listed healthy despite preseason hamstring concerns. Chicago will be without T.J. Edwards and two starting corners, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Minnesota sits as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. The SportsLine staple, RJ White, leans under and points to a pivotal X-factor that could tilt the spread.

From a fantasy lens, Jefferson’s health looms large as McCarthy makes his MNF debut for Minnesota. Chicago counters with Swift back in the backfield and Caleb Williams-adjacent hype, which could juice the Bears’ offense. With Smith out, the Vikings’ secondary loses a veteran presence, elevating opportunities for Chicago’s pass game, while Minnesota looks to pace the game and capitalize on big plays from Jefferson and McCarthy connections.

The Chicago Bears head Week 1 facing a major defensive shakeup, as three top defenders—Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and T.J. Edwards—are inactive, testing Chicago’s secondary against Minnesota’s aerial attack. Roschon Johnson and rookie Shemar Turner also sit out, while Jordan Addison’s suspension clears a path for Justin Jefferson and the Vikings’ passing game. JJ McCarthy makes his first NFL start in a Minnesota-led contest at Soldier Field, with kickoff set for 7:15 p.m. CST.

Without that defensive identity, Chicago must lean on youth and scheme under new coordination. Minnesota’s offense, even with Addison out, presents a challenge as Jefferson remains the primary target and the Vikings rotate pieces to exploit the Bears’ coverage. This Week 1 showdown doubles as a test of Bears resilience and Vikings depth in a highly anticipated opener.