Chicago Bears have no plans of splitting from RB Howard

Bears Pro Bowl running back Jordan Howard isn't going anywhere.

Despite rushing for more yards (2,435) in his first two seasons than anyone in franchise history, Howard was the subject of trade rumors earlier in the offseason. But the only Bear to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons said the team has assured him he's in their future plans.

"They told my agent they had no plans to trade me or anything like that," Howard said. "So that's comforting."

Howard, who is generally a man of few words, was asked if the trade talk bothered him.

"Not really," he said. "It's a business, so you've got to understand that, so I really wasn't hurt about that or anything."

There has also been speculation that, because Howard isn't a great pass catcher, that he might not fit in new coach Matt Nagy's offense, which often utilizes the running backs as receivers. Nagy threw water on that notion.

"I wouldn't say that," the Bears' coach said. "I think every running back has their own strengths and weaknesses. There are some that are better as pass receivers. There are some that are better inside, tight zones and mid zones and outside zones.

"Jordan has his own way of running. Anything that he does that's a weakness, we're going to try to focus on that and try to get it better. Just because he struggles in one area, whatever that is, we're going to get him better. To sit there and say he doesn't fit this offense, I don't think is very fair."

Howard also downplayed the social-media "panic" that resulted from a report that he had deleted Bears pictures on his Instagram account.

"Wasn't nothing to it," Howard said. "Just a story people made up. I don't know. You can go on there now and see if they're on there. I don't know."

They are; end of story.

• Bob LeGere is a senior writer at Pro Football Weekly. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere or @PFWeekly.