FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets on Wednesday signed former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen, who didn't play in the NFL until 2020 due to injury.
Cohen, 28, was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection as a kick return specialist in 2018. He was sidelined with a broken right foot. I tore my ACL and MCL. He missed that season and the next in 2020.
During the 2022 offseason, Cohen ruptured his Achilles tendon, similar to the injury Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered in last year's season opener, causing him to miss the entire season.
He was cleared to play last summer and signed with Carolina's practice squad, but spent most of the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was waived by the Panthers on May 10.
“Taric is an explosive playmaker,” coach Robert Saleh said. “He's starting to get healthy again.”
NFL owners are considering a one-year trial this offseason A radical change to kickoffsthe new system borrows heavily from the one used in the XFL spring league and is expected to make more of a return this season.
“With the new kickoff rules, kick returners will touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is huge,” Saleh said. “At least, that's what we expect. We're excited to have a guy like him, even though he's still young and obviously coming off an injury, on our team.”
Saleh said second-year wide receiver Xavier Gipson will be the “priority” to handling return duties, but the addition of Cohen gives the Jets more options and depth.
Cohen was a fourth-round pick by the Bears in 2017 out of North Carolina A&T University and quickly established himself as one of the league's most dynamic and versatile players, as a quick, agile pass-catching threat out of the backfield in the return game and special teams, but injuries derailed his career.
In 51 career games, he has rushed for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns and caught 209 yards for 1,575 yards and nine scores. He also averaged 20.9 yards on kickoff returns and 10.3 yards on punt returns, including a touchdown against San Francisco in 2017 when Saleh was the defensive coordinator.
“Defensively, when I was with the Bears, he was a nightmare to gameplan against,” Saleh said. “He's a playmaker.”
Camping together
Saleh said the Jets plan to hold joint practices with three preseason opponents during training camp.
New York will welcome Washington to the facility ahead of its preseason opener scheduled for Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium, then practice with the Panthers the following week in preparation for their game at Carolina.
The Jets and Giants are scheduled to hold joint practices before their preseason finale on Aug. 24. The teams worked out together at the Giants' facility two years ago but did not practice together last summer.
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