By Sunday 
In the NFL, fresh starts are everything. For some players, a new team can mean redemption, reinvention, or revival. But for former Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson, it’s starting to feel like déjà vu in the worst possible way.
Same Body, Different Jersey
Once a promising young piece on the Lions’ O-line, Jackson now finds himself on the sideline again, this time wearing Chicago Bears colors. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Jackson suffered a leg injury during Bears training camp and is currently listed as day-to-day. Not exactly the splash his new team was hoping for.
It’s a frustrating but familiar narrative. Jackson’s time in Detroit was defined by flashes of solid play sandwiched between stints on the injury report. A Pro Bowler in 2021 with a respectable 69.3 PFF grade, he’s unfortunately become more known for his health history than his performance.
A Costly Pattern
After tearing his meniscus in the NFC Championship Game last season and appearing in just four games due to a fractured scapula, Jackson was shipped to Chicago in a trade with the Rams. The Bears restructured his deal to a still-hefty three-year, $44.5 million contract — banking on a rebound that has yet to begin.
And they didn’t stop there. Chicago invested heavily in their line this offseason, handing Joe Thuney a $35M extension and luring center Drew Dalman away from Atlanta for $42 million. But Jackson? He’s already back in street clothes while training camp rolls on.
Meanwhile in Motown…
Over in Detroit, the Lions aren’t looking back. With Penei Sewell anchoring a stellar offensive line and quarterback Jared Goff upright and thriving, the team continues to build on the foundation GM Brad Holmes laid by trimming injury-prone players like Jackson.
In other words — no regrets.
Whether Jackson can turn things around in Chicago is still up in the air. But so far, his fresh start feels more like a rerun. And in the NFL, availability is the best ability — a lesson the Bears may already be learning the hard way.