Jordan Howard is rebooting his career in Philadelphia after three seasons in Chicago, in which he's gobbled up the third-most rushing yards in that span.
During his time with the Bears, Howard rushed for 3,370 yards, earned a Pro Bowl selection after his rookie season, was one of six running backs with six-plus rushing TDs in each of the last three seasons (Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley, Mark Ingram, Latavius Murray) and was one of five running backs with 1,000-plus scrimmage yards in each of the last three seasons (Elliott, Gordon, Gurley, Lamar Miller).
After two weeks of workouts since being traded from Chicago to Philly, Howard is ready to do more for the Eagles.
"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 Monday, via Zach Berman of the Philly Daily News.
The "more" includes catching passes, which the running back struggled with mightily during his first three seasons. Howard generated 72 total catches for 568 yards and one TD combined in those three years in Chicago. Last season, new coach Matt Nagy effectively avoided throwing the ball to Howard (just 20 receptions).
Howard had troubles catching out the backfield, often fighting the ball at the catch point, but Philly coaches believe he's improved.
"He's caught the ball when we've thrown it to him, so that's what I'm going to go [off] right now, his production with us," offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. "I think he's worked hard at it and doesn't fight the ball, and we just have to keep throwing him balls."
Howard's ability to be a threat catching the ball is key for him to get on the field in Philadelphia, which also boasts rookie RB Miles Sanders, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams, Boston Scott and Donnell Pumphrey.
Howard's main job in Philly will be as the hammer, but the more the back can do, the more opportunities he'll have to stick on the field in 2019.
"I thought it was going to be similar to Chicago, but it's a lot more diverse," Howard said of the Eagles' offense. "We do a lot more than Chicago does. So I'd definitely say it's a lot different."