Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
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:
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 told me it’s unlikely he will play one of the final two games. https://t.co/cPmcak8xtP
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) December 27, 2023
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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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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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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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 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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Panthers ST coordinator Chris Tabor spoke about his connection with Tarik Cohen on Thursday.
The last time new Carolina Panthers running back Tarik Cohen was on an NFL field, he had special teams coordinator Chris Tabor by his side. And now that they’ve been reunited in Charlotte, that could be the case for the next time.
Tabor spoke with reporters a day after the team officially added Cohen to their practice squad. When asked of how the former All-Pro punt returner looked in his workout from Tuesday, Tabor said the following:
“He did real well. I think that we all worked together. I think there was kinda just one of those deals, I mean, Tarik is close and have the opportunities—he’s comin’ back. Just kinda see where he’s at. I think we do that with a lot of players. But I’m glad that he worked out well and now just tryin’ to get him goin’ a little bit.”
Cohen’s last NFL snap came under Tabor and the Chicago Bears in 2020, on a punt return during their Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The play would unfortunately result in ACL and MCL tears as well as tibial plateau fracture.
He’d go on to miss the remainder of that season as well as the succeeding one. Cohen then tore his Achilles during a workout session last spring, forcing him to miss the 2022 campaign.
And now, Tabor—who always felt like he’s had a connection to Cohen—is just glad he’s back at it.
“He means a lot to me,” he added. “He’s such a . . . we know he’s a good player—but more importantly, he’s a great person. And he’s been through a lot. He sustained his injury on a punt return down in Atlanta. So I always, selfishly, felt responsible for that. And I was just so happy just to watch him work out and see him run and move around and that’s just kinda part of the deal.”
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Tarik Cohen admitted that he was playing his Playstation when the Panthers called to sign him yesterday.
Tarik Cohen hasn’t even been a member of the Carolina Panthers for a day, but we already get the feeling that you’re going to love him.
The 28-year-old running back took questions from reporters in the locker room this afternoon, shortly after his addition to the practice squad was made official. But what was he doing when he heard the news himself?
Well, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Cohen was playing some Playstation when he got the call about his signing.
Tarik Cohen blames his 2022 Achilles injury on being overweight when he was trying to show off on Instagram live. He hadn’t been on the field in two years before that. It delayed his comeback.
He was playing PlayStation when the #Panthers called to sign him.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) September 13, 2023
Cohen, who has not played an NFL down since Week 3 of the 2020 season, worked out for the Panthers on Tuesday. And that, apparently, was good enough for the eyes of head coach Frank Reich and company.
“. . . he looked good out there,” Reich said during his pre-practice presser. “Obviously, it’s been a while. Obviously, very bad injury. So, to his credit, felt a lot of good energy from him like he’s ready to play some football.”
The Bunn, N.C. native and North Carolina A&T State University product also spoke about the importance of making his comeback at home.
“I just felt like I wanted to come full circle,” he told Vashti Hurt of Carolina Blitz. “I was raised here, grew up playing football in North Carolina. I just felt like I needed to be here and this is the place for me.”
So, uh, we may have a hunch as to what Cohen is going to do in his downtime following practice today.
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Panthers HC Frank Reich was excited to see Tarik Cohen hit the field on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers announced the addition of running back Tarik Cohen—officially signing the former All-Pro to their practice squad. So, head coach Frank Reich was able to speak on the move.
“I was really excited to see him out there for the workout,” he said with a smile during this afternoon’s presser. “I remember when he was with the Bears—just watching him and just like, ‘Man, this guy is . . . he is different.’ Not only physically is he different, but his quickness and as a runner. I coached Darren Sproles—so a very similar type player—and I felt like there’s a little bit of that in him. And a dynamic returner as well.
“So, he looked good out there. Obviously, it’s been a while. Obviously, very bad injury. So, to his credit, felt a lot of good energy from him like he’s ready to play some football.”
Cohen, who has not played an NFL down since Week 3 of the 2020 campaign, worked out for the Panthers on Tuesday. The 5-foot-6, 191-pounder is on his way back from a handful of devastating injuries—including tears to his ACL and MCL, a tibial plateau fracture and a torn Achilles tendon.
Reich was then asked if he has an idea of if or when Cohen could be moved to the active roster.
“I think, probably, it’s a few weeks of him getting back in football shape,” he replied. “And then, he may or may not be active. It just depends on how things are going. There’s not a definite plan to bring him up. We’re happy with the guys that we have. But we also like the fact that he’s ready to play football, and that he physically looks like he’s back to his old, explosive. So I think we have a few weeks to kinda figure that out.”
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The Panthers have made the addition of former Bears RB and 2018 All-Pro Tarik Cohen official.
It’s officially comeback season for Tarik Cohen.
As announced on Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers have signed the former Chicago Bears running back to their practice squad. Reports of the addition first popped up last night, following the 28-year-old’s workout for the team just hours earlier.
Cohen, a Bunn, N.C. native and North Carolina A&T State University product, was a fourth-round pick of the Bears back in 2017. He’d go on to spend four seasons in the Windy City, including his standout 2018 campaign—where he earned First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods for his work in the return game.
In addition to his prowess on special teams, the 5-foot6, 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.
He spent three of those seasons in Chicago under current Panthers special teams coach Chris Tabor. So if Carolina is still searching for a return man—and perhaps even a spark on offense—the electric ball carrier could have himself a strong advocate in his path back to an NFL field.
Cohen has not played in a regular-season game since Chicago’s Week 3 contest of the 2020 campaign, 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 last spring.
The Panthers also added wide receiver Mike Strachan to the group. To make room for the additions, the team released running back Spencer Brown and placed cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver III on practice squad injured reserve (hamstring).
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