Jaylon Johnson tired of Bears' potential: 'It's about action' - ESPN

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The last time the preseason hype was this strong, the Chicago Bears had just won the NFC North with the league's top-ranked defense in 2018. The following season, those expectations were met with disappointment when the Bears stumbled to a third-place finish in the division with an 8-8 record.

Jaylon Johnson was drafted by Chicago one year later, in 2020, and has never been part of a team with a winning record during his tenure. As the Bears opened training camp with their first practice Saturday, the second-team All-Pro cornerback said the vibe around a team with heightened outside expectations doesn't seem any different.

«I feel like I've been on some talented rosters to where we've had a lot of upside,» Johnson said. «I feel like for me it's one of those things where I'm tired of just having upside and having potential. I want to be in a position where we actually go out there and we are that and not just what we're projected to be at.»

ESPN Bet has the Bears over/under win total at 8.5, their highest win total projection since 2019 (9). Chicago went under its total of 7.5 last season when it finished with a 7-10 record and hasn't reached nine or more wins in a season since 2018 (12-4).

The moves the Bears made this offseason, from drafting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick to acquiring wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back D'Andre Swift and safety Kevin Byard, are largely responsible for the influx of expectations. General manager Ryan Poles projected that this year's training camp will be the most competitive he's ever seen, while wide receiver DJ Moore said this roster is the most talented he has ever been a part of.

After practice, Johnson said that instead of buying