If there’s one word that describes the mindset of Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson this season, it would be: dominate.

The third-year defensive back described the best way to be a dominant defender in 2022-23. 

“I don’t think there’s anything that I can’t do. It’s just one of those things where it has to be done snap after snap and I find that’s very tangible for me,” Johnson said in an interview with Elise Menaker on Bear Essentials. “It’s really going out and not getting bored with the process, not getting bored with being that lockdown corner and just really trying to find ways to make plays, keep trying to impact the game, even when the ball is not coming my way. However I can impact the game, I want to do that and I feel like I have the capabilities to be a dominant football player in this league.”

After the Bears’ season-opening win over the Niners, Johnson missed the next 3 games with a quad injury. He returned last Thursday night against the Commanders and couldn’t wait to get back on the field with his teammates.

“It was great really to compete. It was something that I itch for every day, especially watching the team go out there and play those few games and not being able to be back out there. Just having that energy, that juice back on that field. Being alongside of the guys was just a surreal moment on Thursday night football,” Johnson said.

One of the strongest attributes the Bears have on defense this season is the second half adjustments. Johnson wants the defense to bring that same intensity into the start of every game. 

“We do a really good job making all those adjustments at halftime and I feel like that’s a big stamp of who are defense is. Being able to adjust, being able to finish out those games in the second half. For us, it’s bringing that same energy into the game and trying to make those adjustments before heading into it and not making those mistakes that we have to adjust. Starting the game off fast I feel like is going to be good for us,” Johnson said. 

Watch the full interview with Jaylon Johnson above.