LAKE FOREST — When Bears running back Matt Forte cleaned out his locker at Halas Hall in January after eight seasons as the team’s feature back, he left behind a ragged T-shirt with the words “Work Horse” on the back.



“It’s my workhorse shirt,” he said. “I just wanted to leave it in there because all my hard work, blood, sweat, tears is in this shirt, too. I wanted to kind of just leave it in my locker.”



Bears second-year running back Jeremy Langford said he remembered Forte leaving the shirt, but he doesn’t know what happened to it. What he does know is he’s next in line to be the Bears’ workhorse back.



Langford was Forte’s heir apparent last year and now as the season opener approaches, he’s ready to take on Forte’s old job. He’s been answering questions about being the team’s lead back since the offseason program, but it’s about to get real...