Former Bears running back Jordan Howard once looked like a player capable of finishing his career in Chicago as one of the most productive players at his position in franchise history.
He exploded onto the scene with a franchise record 1,313 rushing yards as a rookie and finished that season (2016) second in the NFL in rushing. He came back the following year to eclipse 1,100 yards in what many considered a down season, but in 2018, his Bears career came apart at the seams.
One of the first questions asked after Matt Nagy was named head coach was whether Howard would be a fit in the offense. And while Nagy did his best that offseason to be politically correct and touted Howard as the team’s lead back, it was obvious by year’s end that a change was needed.
Howard finished 2018 with just 935 yards and a career-worst 3.7 yards per carry. He was traded in late-March to the Eagles for a 2020 sixth-round pick.
It was quite the fall for a one-time fan-favorite.
But it may have been the best thing for Howard, who’s being used in Philadelphia a lot more like he was during his productive rookie season.
“I feel like they’re allowing me to do more, show my game off more instead of just being one-dimensional like Chicago had me,” Howard said via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
According to Howard, the Eagles’ offense is even more expansive than what Nagy brought to the Bears.
“I thought it was going to be similar to Chicago, but it’s a lot more diverse. We do a lot more than Chicago does. So I’d definitely say it’s a lot different.”
Howard will jockey for carries in 2019 with rookie second-round pick Miles Sanders (Penn State), but he’s a safe bet to at least begin the season as the primary ball carrier. It will be a difficult task to hold off Sanders all season, but if Howard has truly regained his 2016 form, the Eagles will have no reason to take him off the field.
