The Eagles welcomed back a familiar face on Monday morning when they signed running back Jordan Howard to the practice squad.

Howard was the lead back for the first half of the 2019 season for the Eagles. He gained 525 yards and scored six touchdowns before a shoulder injury suffered in the ninth game of the season essentially ended his campaign.

The 6-0, 224-pound Howard was a nice complement to Miles Sanders in 2019. Howard was acquired by the Eagles in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bears.

Following the 2019 season, Howard signed with the Miami Dolphins where he played in five games before being waived. He scored four touchdowns with the Dolphins.

Howard knows the Eagles' offense and provides a valuable insurance policy. The Eagles can elevate him for two games without having to put him on the active roster. The Eagles did that with Elijah Holyfield on Sunday against Cleveland with Corey Clement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Eagles have Sanders as their feature back, Boston Scott as the primary backup, and Clement as the No. 3 back when active. Holyfield, Adrian Killins, and now Howard are on the practice squad.

Originally drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Howard was one of only two running backs to gain at least 900 yards in every season from 2016-18 (Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott). Howard made the Pro Bowl after gaining 1,313 yards as a rookie. He followed that up with a 1,122-yard campaign in 2017, becoming the first player in Bears history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He reached 2,000 yards faster than any Bears player, including Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Gale Sayers.