Tag: Tarik Cohen

Former Panthers, Bears RB Tarik Cohen retires

Tarik Cohen, who spent the 2023 season on the Panthers’ practice squad, has called it a career.

The comeback bid for former Carolina Panthers running back Tarik Cohen has ended.

As reported by ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the 29-year-old Bunn, N.C. native has informed the New York Jets that he is retiring from football. Cohen posted the following tweet ahead of Schefter’s report on Thursday morning:

The North Carolina A&T State University product cracked into the league as a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2017. He spent four seasons there, a stint highlighted by his First-team All-Pro campaign as a returner in 2018.

Even at 5-foot-6 and 191 pounds, Cohen also proved to be an offensive threat. He notched 1,101 rushing yards, 1,575 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns out of the backfield for the Bears.

Cohen’s last regular-season appearance came in Chicago’s Week 3 contest in 2020, where he sustained ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture while returning a punt. He’d then tear his Achilles tendon during a workout session in the spring of 2022.

Carolina would take a flyer on Cohen in 2023—reuniting him with his special teams coordinator from Chicago, Chris Tabor. Cohen spent the season on the team’s practice squad before being released on May 10, 2024.

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Jets sign RB/KR Tarik Cohen

Jets sign RB/KR Tarik Cohen

The Jets signed free-agent running back and kick returner Tarik Cohen Wednesday. The new kickoff rules may help give Cohen a better chance of sticking around with a team and getting his NFL career back on track.

Cohen has been working his way back from a list of serious injuries, including his ACL, MCL, tibial plateau fracture and an Achilles tear. Cohen has not played in a game since 2020 with the Chicago Bears when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL along with the tibial injury on a kick return during a Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Cohen first attempted a comeback to the NFL in 2023 with the Carolina Panthers, spending time on their practice squad. The Panthers released Cohen earlier this month.

Before his injuries, Cohen was establishing himself as a valuable return man. He achieved All-Pro honors in 2018 with almost 1,600 all-purpose yards, including 725 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns on 71 catches.

Cohen will compete with Xavier Gipson for the primary return duties for the Jets.

Former Bears RB Tarik Cohen signs with Jets

Former Bears RB Tarik Cohen is getting another shot in the NFL, signing a one-year deal with the Jets.

Former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen is getting another shot in the NFL. Cohen is signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cohen suffered a torn ACL on a punt return in 2020. He struggled to return from the injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season, and Chicago released him with an injury designation in March 2022. Cohen continued to rehab, but he unfortunately suffered a setback during training, tearing his Achilles in May 2022.

After a series of ups and downs, Cohen is getting back healthy, and the Jets believe he can be a playmaker for them as a return specialist.

“Tarik, explosive playmaker, he’s starting to get back healthy,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said, via the New York Post. “With the new kickoff rules and these kick returners, they’re going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant — at least that’s what we’re anticipating. And a guy like him, he’s still young, obviously coming off his injuries, and we’re excited to have him aboard.”

Cohen, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, was a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands — whether it was on offense or special teams as a punt returner. He signed a three-year, $17.25 million extension with the Bears just before his knee injury during the 2020 season.

The Carolina Panthers signed Cohen to their practice squad last year, where he spent a duration of the 2023 season. Carolina signed Cohen to a reserve/future contract in January, but he was released on May 10. Now, Cohen gets another shot to prove himself with the Jets.

Former Panthers RB Tarik Cohen reportedly signing with Jets

Tarik Cohen is getting another shot.

Don’t close the book on Tarik Cohen just yet.

According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the 28-year-old running back will be signing with the New York Jets. Cohen spent the 2023 season as part of the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad and was released by the team back on May 10.

Cohen, a Bunn, N.C. native and North Carolina A&T State University product, was a fourth-round pick of the Bears in 2017. He spent four seasons there, including his standout 2018 campaign—where he earned First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods as a returner.

The 5-foot-6, 191-pounder also proved to be an offensive threat. Cohen notched 1,101 rushing yards, 1,575 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns out of the backfield for the Bears.

Cohen has not played in a regular-season game since Chicago’s Week 3 contest in 2020, where he sustained ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture while taking back a punt. He also tore his Achilles tendon during a workout session in the spring of 2022.

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Panthers sign 11 players to future deals on Monday

The Panthers have signed 11 members of their practice squad to future deals.

Carolina Panthers assistant general manager Dan Morgan began the organization’s transition from Scott Fitterer on Monday.

In addition to signing tight end Stephen Sullivan and defensive linemen Nick Thurman and LaBryan Ray to one-year extensions, the team also brought back 11 practice squad members on future deals.

Here are those 11 players:

Tarik Cohen says he’s unlikely to play in final weeks

Although he was elevated back to the practice squad on Wednesday, Panthers RB Tarik Cohen said he’s unlikely to make his NFL return in 2023.

Well, maybe it is too late for Tarik Cohen to make his long-awaited comeback.

On Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers opened a potential opportunity for the 28-year-old running back—elevating him up to the practice squad after being shelved for nearly two months with a hamstring injury. So, just like he has for much of the season, interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor fielded questions about Cohen’s availability.

“We brought him back a little bit too so we’d get some questions on it,” he said jokingly. “Tarik’s very deserving. We had a spot so that he could come back. Glad to get him back out there on the grass and see where he’s at.

“Seriously, it is great to have him around and practicing. Because what he brings to practice and how he practices, it’s great to have around.”

Tabor was then asked if he thinks Cohen has a shot at playing in at least one of the two final games of the campaign.

“I can never promise anything,” he replied. “And therefore, I won’t answer that question. I want everybody that’s on our team to have an opportunity to play, and he’s no different.”

Unfortunately, however, Cohen himself doesn’t seem to think he’ll have that opportunity.

Cohen has not played an NFL down since Week 3 of the 2020 season, when he sustained ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture. The former All-Pro returner also tore his Achilles during an offseason workout last spring.

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Panthers elevate Tarik Cohen to practice squad

It may not be too late for Tarik Cohen to make his return in 2023.

Even with two games left in the 2023 season, it still may not be too late for Tarik Cohen to finally make his comeback.

As announced by the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday afternoon, Cohen has been elevated to the team’s practice squad. The 28-year-old running back was previously shelved on the squad’s injured reserve, where he landed on Nov. 6 due to a hamstring injury.

Cohen, a Bunn, N.C. native and North Carolina A&T State University product, signed to the group back on Sept. 13. In addition to his local ties, Cohen had already crossed paths with current Panthers interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor in Chicago from 2018 to 2021.

He has not played an NFL snap since Week 3 of the 2020 campaign, when he sustained ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture. The former All-Pro returner also tore his Achilles tendon during a workout session last spring.

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Panthers place Tarik Cohen on practice squad injured reserve

The Panthers have placed RB Tarik Cohen on practice squad injured reserve.

The Carolina Panthers, who have already placed 11 players on injured reserve this season, are also feeling the pain on their practice squad.

As announced by the team on Monday morning, running back Tarik Cohen has been moved to practice squad injured reserve. He will now miss at least the next four weeks due to his hamstring issue.

Cohen signed on to the squad back on Sept. 13. In addition to his local roots, the Bunn, N.C. native and North Carolina A&T State University product had previous ties with current Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

That relationship developed in Chicago, where Cohen earned a First-team All-Pro nod as a return specialist in 2018. On offense, he recorded 1,101 rushing yards, 1,575 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns over four seasons for the Bears.

The 28-year-old hasn’t played an NFL down since Week 3 of the 2020 campaign, where he sustained ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture. Cohen also tore his Achilles tendon during a workout session last spring.

Running back Spencer Brown, who spent time with the organization over the past three seasons, has been signed to fill Cohen’s vacancy.

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Chris Tabor gives update on Tarik Cohen’s potential Panthers debut

Is Tarik Cohen any closer to making his Panthers debut? Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor answered that on Thursday.

Tarik Cohen may one of the most popular players the Carolina Panthers have ever had on their practice squad.

Cohen’s name popped up yet again on Thursday, during the Week 5 media availability for special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. Tabor was asked if the former First-team All-Pro returner is any closer to, well, returning.

“He’s workin’ at it, just like anyone on the P-squad at this moment,” he replied. “And I always say, you might not project him right now—but, boom—there he is, he’s ready to go. There’s a lot of factors that go into it.”

The 28-year-old is still trying to stage a comeback after a series of devastating injuries knocked him out of the league. He has not played an NFL down since Week 3 of the 2020 campaign, when he sustained tears to his ACL and MCL along with a tibial plateau fracture.

But Cohen, who signed on with his hometown Panthers almost a month ago, may soon be able to bring some much-needed juice to multiple sides of the ball.

“I think it could be either way,” Tabor said when asked if Cohen can contribute on both special teams and offense. “I think the thing about is—and I understand the questions, and he’s doin’ great—but at the same time, he hasn’t played in three years. And, what’s he been with us now? Four weeks? So, let’s say he’s just now finishing training camp. You have to kinda put it in that picture for the player.”

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Panthers looking to ‘rev up’ Tarik Cohen a bit more this week

Panthers ST coordinator Chris Tabor on Tarik Cohen: I think that he’s on track

Is Tarik Cohen getting closer to an improbable return? He may very well be.

Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor spoke with reporters ahead of Thursday’s practice. Tabor, right off the top, was asked about the progress of the former All-Pro returner and running back.

“He’s doin’ fine,” Tabor said of Cohen. “He’s doin’ fine. I think it’s another week to where you kinda begin to rev him up a little bit more and keep puttin’ more on his plate and see how he responds. But so far, he’s done well.”

Cohen, who has not played an NFL snap since Week 3 of the 2020 campaign, is still trying to make his way back from a devastating string of injuries—including tears to his ACL, MCL and Achilles tendon as well as a tibial plateau fracture. The 28-year-old, in a big first step, signed to the Panthers’ practice squad last Wednesday.

While Tabor stopped short of saying if Cohen would be on the active roster soon, attributing that duty to head coach Frank Reich, he did say that the dynamic ball carrier is moving along in the process.

“I think that he’s on track,” he stated. “It’s a player that hasn’t played in a couple years. So, as we always say, you’re just kinda gettin’ a little Pledge there and dustin’ off the shelf.”

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