Running back Jordan Howard injured his right shoulder in the first half of the Bears’ opener before he scored his only touchdown of the season.

One day after leaving the Bears’ second game in a sling, Howard said his shoulder was fine.

“My shoulder, I’m good, I’m good,” Howard said Monday, speaking to the media for the first time since the regular season began.

Howard had nine carries for seven yards Sunday and has 59 yards on 22 carries for the season.

“We’ve just had some struggles,” he said. “I gotta do better, gotta break more tackles, get back to my form last year.”

He has shared time with rookie Tarik Cohen but said the two “definitely can coexist on the field at the same time.” They were paired together against the Buccaneers.

“It could open up things for me because they’ll be paying attention to him,” he said.

Tight end Zach Miller said communication between linemen and tight ends on combination blocks play into Howard’s success, or lack thereof. So, too, have circumstances.

“When you get down early, it’s hard to establish the run,” Miller said. “You’ve got to start throwing it. So when you get down 26 points, you’ve kind of abandoned that game plan, and now you’re playing catch-up the whole way.”

Injuries pile up

The Bears are concerned that inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski’s pectoral injury could be a tear, the same injury that befell his predecessor, Jerrell Freeman, on the first play of the season.

“I’ve never seen the same injury to two guys back-to-back like that,” outside linebacker Willie Young said. “But as tough as it is to lose a guy, this is as much an opportunity for the next man. And I don’t know where we’re going to go from here. I don’t know who’s going to be the guy.

“We’ve got a couple of guys who are very versatile, I would say. But I don’t think there will be too much of a drop-off.”

The Bears figure to look to Christian Jones, Jonathan Anderson or practice-squadder John Timu.

Fox didn’t offer much of an update on Josh Sitton’s rib injury. Fellow guard Tom Compton left the game with a hip problem.

It’s clear the Bears’ injury bug didn’t leave them during the offseason.

“It started early, and it’s continuing,” Miller said. “I don’t know the reason for it.”

Miller happy for Cutler

Miller texted Jay Cutler his congratulations after the former Bears quarterback won his first game with the Dolphins on Sunday. Miami beat the Chargers 19-17.

“I never wanted him to quit playing football,” Miller said. “To see him have success and get a win out there, I was happy for him.”

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

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