Training camp is all about the battles taking place on the field and when you have stars on both sides of the ball, it just makes each rep even more meaningful. That's a luxury the Chicago Bears have been able to benefit from leading up to the 2024 season. With three top play-makers at wide receiver and a stout back seven on defense, each play between the offense and defense has been a back-and-forth war.
While speaking to the media following Tuesday's practice, Bears new star wide receiver Keenan Allen shared some insight in one of the top battles he's faced going up against Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson. "He's patient, he plays his assignment well. He knows routes, he's always looking to make a pass breakup," Allen said .
"He doesn't like anybody to catch the ball on him. He's greedy in that way, which is a good thing..
. I haven't had a catch on him" It seems like Johnson is picking up right where he left off in terms of locking up some of the top wideouts in the game. Being lined up against Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze, Johnson has been facing the toughest camp competition of his career.
These battles each day during practice will only make each player better. The specific battle between Allen and Johnson is even more interesting considering the two faced each other during the 2023 season in Week 8. As good as Allen is, it shouldn't be all too surprising that Johnson has been putting the clamps on him during training camp.
We're talking about the guy who only allowed 25 total receptions last season, which led all cornerbacks that played 500+ snaps. Lock in, lock down pic.twitter.
com/wgQgtinq25 The two also faced off during the 2023 Pro Bowl after both players were selected. Needless to say, the two were already really familiar with each other's game. "He plays different and he is different.
His route running is different, his timing and the way he crafts his routes is different," Johnson said about Allen. "Lining up [against him], you have to factor all of that in, you have to be a little more patient. He's somebody I look at like a top guy in this league.
Every time I step up and I'm going against him, I'm going to treat him accordingly." Back to work pic.twitter.
com/tig2PN4tl3 While both players were named to the Pro Bowl last season, Johnson got the one-up on Allen after also being nominated as a second team All-Pro selection . A few days ago, Allen got some bragging rights back after being named to the NFL Top 100 list . Johnson was snubbed entirely from the list and made sure to voice his reaction , one Allen helped validate on Tuesday.
"Pro Bowl, All-Pro, it's kind of a no brainer," Allen explained. "The list is what it is, year in and year out and you get kind of the same guys. Once he gets in one time, he'll just [keep making it].
.. it just happens like that.
" I’m going back in like I left something. They said I gotta step harder, I’m ready to stomp something pic.twitter.
com/1sGljcVQ4o If Allen and Johnson continue to make each other better on the field every day during the rest of camp and into the season, they'll each get a lot more well deserved respect coming their way from around the league. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission..
