Injuries hindered Tarik Cohen‘s career early in the 2020s. The former Bears running back and Pro Bowl return man got another chance with the Panthers last year, but the team recently ended that opportunity. The Jets have now decided to give him a shot.
Cohen is set to join the Jets on a one-year deal, as reported by ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. This move comes after the Panthers released him earlier this month. Robert Saleh confirmed the agreement, and the fourth-year Jets head coach (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) mentioned the new kickoff rules when discussing Cohen.
With the NFL approving an experiment that will bring back the kick return, some teams are making significant additions to prepare. The Steelers signed Cordarrelle Patterson shortly after the XFL-style kickoff trial was approved, and the Seahawks added Laviska Shenault Jr. with a focus on his return ability. Cohen has made contributions on offense, but his most notable work in the NFL has been in the return game.
Cohen, aged 28, led the NFL in punt-return yardage in 2018, earning first-team All-Pro honors, and scored a punt return touchdown in his rookie year. While he has experience on both punts and kick returns, the Bears moved him away from kick returns after his rookie season. Despite this, Cohen continued to excel, signing a lucrative contract extension in 2020.
Despite spending time on the Panthers’ practice squad last year, Cohen faced more injury setbacks that kept him off the field. After suffering a torn ACL in September 2020, he missed the entire 2021 season and then experienced an Achilles tear shortly after being released in 2022.
The Jets utilized UDFA Xavier Gipson as their main return man last year, which resulted in a memorable special teams moment. Saleh confirmed that Gipson is still the top choice for the kick-return role. With several years having passed since Cohen’s last game, the pressure is on for him to prove himself. However, the Jets have faith in his abilities and will see what the former Bears standout can bring to the table.
