As Bears try to find running game, Jordan Howard heads backward

Fourteen of running back Jordan Howard’s 24 carries went for two yards or less Sunday. Four went for negative yards.

On Monday, coach Matt Nagy said both the Bears’ offense and the Cardinals’ defense were to blame.

‘‘Those negative runs, they can sting now,’’ he said. ‘‘So you’ve got to make sure you limit those because next thing you know it’s second-and-15 and you’re in a hole. If you’re going to call a run play and you get minus-5 yards, that doesn’t do much for a play-caller.’’

Howard, who finished with 61 yards, averaged 2.5 yards per carry for the second consecutive game. He averaged 5.5 yards in the season opener.

The Bears need to figure out how to run the ball better.

‘‘I like where our guys are at right now,’’ Nagy said. ‘‘Again, we’re kind of figuring out what are the best type of runs for us in this offense. And as we do that, I thought it was good to get Jordan going a little bit, though with 24 carries we’d like to have some more yards.’’

On Miller’s shoulder

Nagy said he’ll rely on receiver Anthony Miller to communicate with the medical staff about his dislocated left shoulder. Miller tried to play after hurting it Sunday, but the shoulder popped out again.

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‘‘You obviously want to be smart with those, as you know we will do,’’ Nagy said.

He called Miller and cornerback Prince Amukamara ‘‘day-to-day’’ with injuries. Amukamara said Sunday he didn’t think his hamstring injury was too serious.

This and that

Since the start of last season, safety Eddie Jackson is one of two NFL players with at least three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The other is Dolphins defensive back Reshad Jones.

‘‘He makes plays; he’s energetic,’’ Nagy said. ‘‘He’s a leader back there in that defensive backfield, and he has a lot of confidence in himself. So that kind of just [rubs off on] all the players. They feel that, and anytime you make plays out there, you get ultimate respect from your peers.’’

• One week after the Bears traveled to Arizona on a short week because of their ‘‘Monday Night Football’’ game against the Seahawks, the Buccaneers will fly to Chicago after a week shortened by their appearance on ‘‘MNF.’’

‘‘It’s a disadvantage, in my opinion, when you have a short week,’’ Nagy said. ‘‘You have one less day to prepare.’’

• The Bears waived linebacker Jonathan Anderson from injured reserve.