Terell Smith exited Chicago’s preseason game with a left-leg injury, wiping out a key early-season depth piece. The Bears already wrestle with Jaylon Johnson’s lingering absence and Kyler Gordon’s hamstring, leaving the outside cornerback rotation thinner than anticipated. Smith had surged in camp, pushing for the second outside cornerback job against Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. With Smith’s health uncertain, Stevenson and Wright could gain real opportunities to claim outside snaps, while Johnson’s Week 1 status looms large. Fantasy implications center on defensive back rotations and opportunistic streaming options if Smith misses time, especially once Johnson returns and Stevenson/Wright press for roles. Stay tuned to practice reports for confirmation on Week 1 corner assignments against the Vikings.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned to the field with a noticeable stride, buoying optimism for Week 1 after a leg injury kept him out through training camp and the preseason. A Sunday night session at Soldier Field showed Johnson moving with improved mobility, fueling hope that his presence could anchor a top secondary alongside Kyler Gordon, who is dealing with a hamstring issue and remains week-to-week.

The Bears’ defensive backfield looks poised to be among the league’s most talented if Johnson and Gordon are healthy. Johnson’s Pro Bowl pedigree and recent All-Pro recognition anchor a unit that has to prove itself early, especially in a season-opening bout vs Minnesota. His status could shift Chicago’s defensive ceiling and directly impact fantasy outlooks for Bears’ corners and the pass defense as a whole.

With Gordon also in the mix, Chicago fans and fantasy managers are watching how quickly Johnson can rejoin a revamped secondary that faces a demanding schedule. If Johnson plays Week 1, expect a tighter perimeter and more aggressive coverage, which could translate into fewer big plays for opposing receivers and more opportunities for Chicago to generate turnovers and pass deflections. Even if limited, Johnson’s presence alone changes the Bears’ defensive dynamic early in the season.

Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta will miss a little time with an undisclosed injury, potentially nudging Detroit’s early-week plans toward more depth at the position and forcing a short-term shift in targets behind him. Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is on track to start Cleveland’s Week 2 preseason game, signaling a clear path for a rookie QB battle to begin taking shape. Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin is a strong candidate to begin the year on the PUP list after ankle issues, which could suppress early-season receiving volume. Bears corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are nursing hamstring issues, a situation that could push opposing WRs into more favorable fantasy matchups early in the season. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel was listed as full go in Thursday practice, a boon for Browns’ offense, with Shedeur Sanders sidelined and Gabriel set to take the majority of practice reps ahead of Week 1 excitement.

The Chicago Bears are shoring up their depleted secondary by lining up three defensive backs this week: safety Mark Perry and cornerbacks Mekhi Garner and Kaleb Hayes. Their signings come after a weekend preseason tilt with the Dolphins in which several Bears DBs left the game with injuries, and with Jaylon Johnson on the NFI list and Kyler Gordon and Zah Frazier dealing with health issues. The trio participated in a larger Monday tryout, underscoring Black-and-White’s intent to add depth for camp and early preseason rather than immediate long-term fixes. The moves signal Chicago’s plan to weather practice wear and ongoing camp injuries while depth players earn a chance to prove themselves.

Perry, Garner, and Hayes bring a mix of undrafted free-agent background and special-teams versatility. Perry, a 2024 UDFA from TCU who has bounced among practice squads; Garner, a 2023 UDFA who appeared in three games with Philadelphia and later spent time with the Renegades; Hayes, another 2023 UDFA with multiple NFL stops but no regular-season games yet—each adds potential depth and competition for snaps in a position group hit hard by injuries. With Johnson on NFI and the Bears cautious about training camp, these additions aim to stabilize the back end without disrupting player development as Chicago eyes a fuller health return in advance of deeper preseason work.

Bears camp has Nahshon Wright turning heads as he battles for an outside cornerback job opposite Jaylon Johnson, with Al Harris supervising the Bears’ revamped secondary. Wright, a former third-round pick who spent time with Dallas under Harris, has impressed with his size, football IQ, and willingness to take coaching. Harris’s impact is highlighted by the quick bond he’s formed with Wright, a sign of potential long-term development at corner.

Wright’s push comes as he competes with Tyrique Stevenson for Week 1 duties, with Stevenson bringing length and volatility to the outside. Johnson remains a Pro Bowler and the anchor, but Wright’s summer surge has everyone watching the depth chart. If the rookie remains sharp, a starting role could be his early in the season, reshaping how Chicago’s secondary is projected for fantasy and real-game impact.

Overall, this reunion between Wright and Harris is a storyline to monitor—one that could lift the Bears’ pass defense from solid to formidable if Wright translates training-camp momentum into Week 1 production.