CLEVELAND – Rookie running back Jordan Howard showed his versatility and power in leading the Bears to a 21-7 win over the Browns in Thursday night's preseason finale.
The fifth-round draft pick from Indiana rushed for a game-high 107 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries and caught two passes for 33 yards, all in the second half.
Asked if he's feeling more comfortable in the offense, Howard said: "I definitely feel you could say that because lately I've been getting more carries and more opportunities to show what I can do. I've just been trying to make the most of my opportunities."
Howard did just that in the fourth quarter when he dashed around right end and bowled into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown run that put the Bears ahead 21-7.
"On the touchdown run, I just followed my blockers," Howard said. "They sealed the edge off and I just hit the sideline and the defenders didn't really want to tackle me, so I just put it in there. Finishing a run, you have to stay low, keep driving your legs and win one-on-one battles. You can't let anybody stop you."
Earlier in the second half, Howard had set up a Robbie Gould field goal with a 31-yard reception that was the game's longest play from scrimmage. As soon as quarterback David Fales scrambled out of the pocket, the rookie running back slipped away from his defender, creating a wide open target.
"I definitely take pride in that," Howard said of his ability as a receiver. "I had to focus on making the catch because I can't do anything without the ball."
Turnover time: Bears second-year pro Jacoby Glenn, who started at cornerback, produced the game's only takeaway with a second-quarter interception of Josh McCown.
Glenn stepped in front of receiver Josh Gordon to pick off the pass and returned it 14 yards to the Cleveland 49, setting up a Gould field goal.
"I really didn't know it was coming until he threw the ball," Glenn said. "So I just jumped it and made a play."
Glenn broke up another pass intended for Gordon, but was called for a questionable pass interference penalty. Glenn matchup up with Gordon, a top receiver who is suspended for the first four games of the regular season, on several occasions.
"It was a great opportunity to go against a good receiver, show him my ability and just play hard," Glenn said.
Catch this: Reserve receiver Cameron Meredith continued to shine Thursday night, catching a game-high six passes for 46 yards.
"Cam has got all the talent," said quarterback Brian Hoyer, who started and played the first half. "He's big, he's fast, he can catch the ball. I feel comfortable throwing with him. I've had a lot of work with him and I think he did some good things."
Cuts are coming: The Bears must trim 22 players from their roster to reach the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster limit by 3 p.m. Saturday.
"Tomorrow and the next few days are the most meaningful days we have because you get close to people," said coach John Fox. "They've been out here working since March, some of them longer than that. You have a lot of respect for what they do and how they handle themselves. It's never easy letting people go."
This and that: Defensive end Cornelius Washington and linebacker Danny Mason both exited Thursday night's game with knee injuries. … Gould had an odd outing, missing both of his extra point attempts—one was deflected—while making all three field-goal tries from 30, 43 and 27 yards. … Linebacker Christian Jones delivered an impressive performance, recording a game-high 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles-for-loss and two quarterback hits. … Rookie linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, a fourth-round pick from West Virginia, made his preseason debut after missing the first three contests with a hamstring injury, registering one tackle. … Fullback Paul Lasike made a highlight reel 25-yard reception, bowling over two Browns defenders before being tackled.
