With upcoming special teams rule changes, the Jets will be looking to bring back some former stars.
The Jets signed running back/return specialist Tarik Cohen, who missed the past three seasons because of injury, to a one-year contract. According to ESPN:.
Cohen, 28, last appeared in three games for the Bears in 2020 but earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2018 as a return specialist.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh pumped his fist when asked about Cohen on Wednesday.
“Yeah,” Saleh said with a laugh. “Taric is an explosive playmaker and he’s starting to get healthy again. With the new kickoff rules and kick returners, they’re going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is big, or at least that’s what we expect. A guy like him is still young and obviously coming off an injury, so we’re excited to have him on the team.”
Cohen flourished with the Bears from 2017-2020, establishing himself as a special teams weapon and receiving back, but injuries have marred his career.
He tore his ACL at the start of the 2020 season and then missed the entire 2021 season while recovering.
Cohen attempted to return in 2022, but a torn Achilles forced him to miss the entire season.
He signed with the Panthers’ practice squad last September but was sidelined with a hamstring injury and never played a game for Carolina.
The Jets are hoping Cohen’s injury is now a thing of the past and that he can provide a boost on special teams with kickoff rule changes for the 2024 season.
Cohen, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft out of North Carolina A&T, led the NFL in rushing with 411 yards on 33 punt returns (12.5 yards per return) during a standout 2018 season.
Cohen has averaged 10.3 yards on punt returns and 20.9 yards on kick returns over his career, including his lone touchdown on a punt return in 2017.
As a running back, Cohen recorded 209 catches for 1,575 yards and nine touchdowns in his four years with the Bears, including a career-high 725 yards and five receiving touchdowns in 2018.
He could bring experience to a young running back corps.
