Running back Tarik Cohen will sign a one-year contract with the New York Jets. according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cohen, who will turn 29 in July, has not played a single down in the NFL since 2020, when he was with the Chicago Bears. The 2017 fourth-round pick suffered a torn ACL, MCL and leg fracture during Week 3 of the 2020 season and missed the entire 2021 campaign recovering.
After being released by the Bears in March 2022, Cohen suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an offseason workout. A year later, he announced that he was attempting to return to the NFL and signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in September 2023.
The Panthers released Cohen earlier this month and the Jets already have an idea of how they would like to use him.
“Tarik, an explosive playmaker, is starting to recover.” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday.. “With the new kickoff rules, these kick returners are going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant. A guy like him, who is still young and obviously coming off his injuries, we’re excited to have it on board.”
In parts of four seasons with the Bears, Cohen, a 2018 All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, rushed for 1,101 yards on 264 attempts with 5 touchdowns. Out of the backfield, he caught 209 balls for 1,575 yards and found the end zone 9 times.
As Saleh mentioned, Cohen’s returning talents are what intrigued them should he be 100% healthy. During his time with the Bears, Cohen returned 30 kickoffs for 628 yards, as well as 96 punts for 985 yards and one touchdown.