Bears rookie running back Jordan Howard has been named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Monday night's 20-10 win over the Vikings.
Bears rookie Jordan Howard has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The fifth-round draft pick from Indiana rushed for a career-high 153 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries and caught four passes for 49 yards. In the process, Howard became the first Bears rookie to produce more than 200 yards from scrimmage in a game since Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers in 1965.
Howard's 153 yards were the most by a Bears player since Oct. 2, 2011 when Matt Forte rushed for 205 yards in a 34-29 win over the Panthers at Soldier Field.
Howard helped account for all of the Bears points Monday night against the Vikings. He set up two Connor Barth field goals with a 69-yard run and 34-yard reception, had a two-yard touchdown run of his own and extended a third-quarter drive that resulted in a TD with a 6-yard gain on third-and-two from the Minnesota 17.
Howard's 69-yard run was the longest by a Bears player since Nov. 22, 2009 when Kahlil Bell had a 72-yarder in a 24-20 loss to the Eagles at Soldier Field.
Howard was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week Wednesday, which happens to be his 22nd birthday. He is the first Bears rookie to win the award since running back Anthony Thomas in 2001.
Roster move: In other news Wednesday, the Bears signed offensive lineman William Poehls to the practice squad. Poehls has spent time on the practice squads of the Titans (2014-15) and Bills (2016), but has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
He replaces offensive lineman Arturo Uzdavinis, who was released from the practice squad Tuesday after one week.
