The Bears welcomed in rookies Saturday and one of them wound up on the active/non-football injury list
So did three veterans, including cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
The list is for players who have an injury or illness not suffered away from football, not during team offseason work. The rookie who is on the list is undrafted wide receiver Jadhae Walker. The others are veteran backup QB Case Keenum and running back Ian Wheeler.
Keenum is expected to battle with Tyson Bagent for the backup quarterback job.
Jaylon Johnson two days ago.. pic.twitter.com/bMLOQmwZwE
— Dave (@dave_bfr) July 19, 2025
Johnson was seen on social media working out a few weeks ago with other Bears defensive backs near his new home in Las Vegas, at UNLV.
Players on this list do still count on the active roster so there is no roster exemption that allows the team to pick up another player.
Remember when Packer fans tried to tell us Jaire was better than Jaylon Johnson? pic.twitter.com/jHVuuN6oCt
— Burns (@therealburns3) June 9, 2025
If a player stays on the active/NFL list past final roster cutdown, they can move to the reserve/NFI list and then will not count against the 53-man roster. However, if so, then they must miss at least four games.
Wheeler is coming off a torn ACL suffered last preseason. Whether his presence on the list is related to this is uncertain.
Chicago Bears (RB) Ian Wheeler from Howard University, Rehab from 2024 ACL surgery ahead of Schedule pic.twitter.com/86ZoRGvSxR
— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) May 13, 2025
Keenum was practicing throughout OTAs and minicamp.
The Bears do have other potential injury issues with tackle Braxton Jones (knee) and rookie tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder). Those are players who could wind up on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Teams do not get roster exemptions for players on that list during training camp, either.
The team hasn’t announced any PUP list players yet.
Bears DBs Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker all working out together.
Training camp is is 20 days pic.twitter.com/LRREgqABft
— Dave (@dave_bfr) July 2, 2025
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