The Chicago Bears still looking for swings to make on the defensive side of the ball as they work to round out a roster built for Super Bowl contention. With the Bears still weighing potential trades over the next few days, the secondary is a natural place to look for help. And a familiar name just hit the open market.

The Buffalo Bills have released defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who enjoyed a resurgence in Chicago during the 2025 season after reuniting with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. I’m not saying I would vouch for the Bears to explore this reunion. Still, it’s a move worth considering now that it’s an available option, and wouldn’t require trading picks.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson could provide another spark for Chicago’s defense, but there are risks with this guy

Defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons already brought a major spark for Chicago’s defense in his debut with the Bears. Simmons played with a physical presence on the defensive line that opened things up for the rest of the unit. He was a true multiplier.

The Bears are actively looking for other ways to strengthen the roster and keeping bringing that similar spark, and the back end of the defense is the clearest place to start. That’s where Gardner-Johnson enters the conversation.

This guy is a lightning rod when it comes to bringing a spark for a defense. However, his fiery high-energy persona gets him in trouble at times as well. The Bears were willing to overlook those character concerns last year and still managed to get the best out of him.

Yet, the team elected not to bring him back after the 2025 season, which led to him signing with Buffalo. It’s worth noting that ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe reported that Gardner-Johnson’s release from Buffalo was not tied to the spitting incident that led to Gardner-Johnson’s one-game suspension, which he just finished serving. Instead, Wolfe reported that the decision was driven by his inconsistent play in Buffalo.

That inconsistency is something that played a role in in the Bears not bringing him back. Gardner-Johnson would struggle in coverage at times. At the same time, Allen also found the right ways to deploy him. Gardner-Johnson was at his best blitzing off the edge and serving in the nickel role in the absence of Kyler Gordon. He finished with three sacks, 50 tackles, and two interceptions in 10 games with the Bears.

The coaching staff figured out how to turn both the fiery energy and the inconsistent play style into a considerable threat. That history matters if Chicago decides to circle back.

Such a move also opens up some flexibility in the secondary. The Bears need depth at cornerback, and Kyler Gordon is a good enough player that they could slide him to help outside some if they had another quality option in the nickel. Gardner-Johnson could be that option. And Allen would have plenty of chess-pieces to build his defense with.

A practice squad reunion makes the most sense for the Bears

The thing is, Chicago doesn’t have an open spot on the 53-man roster right now. That’s why I see this as more of a practice squad swing than a roster signing. The Bears currently have four defensive backs on the practice squad, and none of them have been elevated yet. Gardner-Johnson would arguably be the best of that group if they signed him.

Putting him on the practice squad first also sends the right message. It makes clear to Gardner-Johnson that he has to earn his place back on this team, and that he isn’t walking into a guaranteed spot. From there, the Bears could give him a couple of elevations and see how he responds being back in a familiar locker room.

“He’s here with a bunch of guys rooting for him,” Johnson said of Gardner-Johnson last season. “He’s grateful for the opportunity and it gives you just a greater sense of appreciation. He’s always been a phenomenal football player and I think he’s found a good home here in Chicago. Our guys are gravitating toward his swagger, his playmaking ability. I think he’s quickly becoming one of us.”

He already knows the defense, he has history with this coaching staff, and Allen got the best out of him in 2025. That’s a lot of familiarity for a player who wouldn’t cost Chicago much and I’m sure Gardner-Johnson wouldn’t mind returning to this group for another playoff run to prove himself after getting released by yet another team.

“It’s just a blessing to be here,” Gardner-Johnson said last year of being in Chicago. “I was home for a month and a half, the narratives, the scrutiny, but when you’re around a great group of people, a great group of coaches, that believe in you, people that believe in you, I think all that goes out the window when they can see the person, and you come in and just adapt and adjust and make an impact on the team.”

Adding a player like Gardner-Johnson would give the Bears another player with that fiery mentality who can come in at a moment’s notice. The difference this time is that Chicago wouldn’t be relying on him to be a full-time starter, which helps with his inconsistent play.

For a team that wants to send a message to the rest of the league that it’s a physical opponent to prepare for, that matters. It’s a risky move, but the Bears can minimize that risk by keeping his role limited while adding some higher quality depth.