INDIANAPOLIS — When Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was asked about his mixed bag of a game Sunday in the 21-16 loss to the Colts, he didn’t mention his interception.
Instead, he was fixated on wide receiver Alec Pierce beating him for a 44-yard catch early in the second quarter.
“Very uncharacteristic giving up a big play, but [stuff] happens playing the cornerback position,” Johnson said. “Just got to be more disciplined.
“That’s not a receiver that should ever catch a pass on me. Just got to stay locked in. But he caught it. Props to him.”
Johnson had hands on Pierce at the line of scrimmage, but Pierce slipped by and got a couple steps ahead up the left sideline and reached the Bears’ 4-yard line. Johnson attributed the error to overthinking as he tried to anticipate the route rather than simply reacting in real time.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds cleaned up the mistake a few plays later by intercepting Anthony Richardson’s pass in the end zone.
Pierce, from Glenbard West High School, topped 500 yards receiving each of the last two seasons after the Colts drafted him in the second round out of Cincinnati. The play against Johnson, his only catch of the game, was his 19th career reception of 20-plus yards.
Johnson spent much of the game covering Michael Pittman, who finished with four catches for 36 yards. Richardson overthrew him on the first play of the second half and sailed the ball right to Johnson. It was his second pick of the season and sixth of his career.
“The pick was solid — I expect to make those plays,” Johnson said. “But I don’t like giving up big plays. I can’t remember the last time I gave one up. I definitely don’t like the feeling. It won’t happen again.
“I don’t get over it. But I keep playing. I know what the standard is for myself, and that’s not the standard.”