Running back Tarik Cohen has signed with the New York Jets, the team announced.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cohen’s contract is for one year.
Cohen, who turns 29 in July, has not played a down in the NFL since his time with the Chicago Bears in 2020. A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, Cohen suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) and a broken leg in Week 3 of the 2020 season and missed the entire 2021 season while recovering.
After being released by the Bears in March 2022, Cohen ruptured his Achilles tendon during offseason training. A year later, he announced he was trying to return and signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in September 2023.
The Panthers waived Cohen earlier this month, and the Jets already have an idea of how they want to use him.
“Taric is an explosive playmaker and is beginning to get healthy.” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday.“With the new kickoff rules, kick returners will touch the ball more than 100 times a year, which means a lot. We’re excited to have a guy like him on the team, who is still young and obviously coming off an injury.”
Cohen, a 2018 All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, rushed 264 times for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons with the Bears. Out of the backfield, he had 209 catches for 1,575 yards and reached the end zone nine times.
As Saleh noted, it’s Cohen’s ability to return if he’s 100% healthy that intrigues them. During his time with the Bears, Cohen returned 30 kickoffs for 628 yards and 96 punts for 985 yards and a touchdown.
