Less than a month after the Bears signed Joique Bell, the team has released the running back, reports Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link).
Bell, a sixth-year veteran who has spent the majority of his career with the NFC North rival Lions, appeared in four games for the Bears and totaled just three carries. Between his release from the Lions in February and his deal with Chicago, the 30-year-old sat on the open market for several months.
With Bell gone, the Bears will go forward with Jordan Howard, Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey as their backfield options. Langford has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury, but he could be nearing a return. Howard and Carey have filled in well in his absence, combining for 459 yards on 96 carries. The lion’s share of work has gone to Howard, a fifth-round rookie who has averaged 4.8 yards per rush on 72 attempts, scored two touchdowns (including one receiving) and caught 14 passes.