Tarik Cohen’s career in the early 2020s was hindered by injuries. Despite a brief comeback attempt with the Panthers last year, they recently ended his bid, leading to the Jets taking a chance on him.
According to a tweet by ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, Cohen has signed a one-year deal with the Jets after being cut by the Panthers earlier this month. Robert Saleh, the Jets’ head coach, confirmed the deal, mentioning the new kickoff rules as a factor in their decision to acquire Cohen.
With the NFL experimenting with new kickoff rules, teams are making strategic additions. The Steelers signed Cordarrelle Patterson shortly after the approval of the XFL-style kickoff trial, while the Seahawks added Laviska Shenault Jr. with a focus on his return abilities. Cohen’s expertise lies in return plays, particularly punt returns, where he led the NFL in yardage in 2018 and earned All-Pro honors.
Although Cohen has made contributions on offense, his notable achievements have been in the return game. Despite being removed from kick-return duties after his rookie season due to the presence of Patterson, Cohen’s role remained significant, as evidenced by his contract extension in 2020.
Injuries have plagued Cohen since his extension, including a torn ACL in September 2020, causing him to miss the 2021 season, followed by an Achilles tear shortly after his release in 2022. Despite being sidelined for nearly four years, the Jets are giving Cohen a chance to showcase his skills, although Xavier Gipson remains the frontrunner for the kick-return role, as confirmed by Saleh. With limited opportunities remaining, Cohen, a product of North Carolina A&T, will aim to make the most of this opportunity with the Jets.
