The Jets made a surprising signing Wednesday, inking running back Tarik Cohen to a one-year deal for 2024.
Cohen, once a strong third-down back and an All-Pro punt returner for the Bears, hasn’t played a down in the NFL since the 2020 season. He suffered a brutal knee injury during that campaign and has struggled to return to the field.
Jets coach Robert Saleh described Cohen as an “explosive playmaker” who is “starting to get back healthy.” That has Saleh and his staff excited about what he could provide the Jets, specifically on kick returns.
“With the new kickoff rules, these kick returners, they’re going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant,” Saleh explained. “At least, that’s what we’re anticipating. A guy like him, he’s still young and obviously coming off his injuries, but we’re excited to have him aboard.”
Cohen faced adversity in his return from injury and also withstood personal tragedy — his twin brother Tyrell died in 2021, and his younger brother Dante died in 2022.
Now the former All-Pro has a chance to return to the NFL. Here’s what to know about Cohen’s career, his injury and how he might fit with the Jets.
MORE: Why the Jets signed Tarik Cohen, explained
Tarik Cohen injury
Cohen suffered a career-altering injury during the Bears’ Week 3 game against the Falcons in the 2020 NFL season. The 5-6, 191-pound back was attempting to make a fair catch on a punt when an Atlanta player accidentally rolled into him.
Cohen suffered tears to his ACL and MCL as a result of the play. He also endured a tibial plateau fracture, which further complicated his return from injury.
As a result of his knee injury, Cohen missed the entire 2021 season. The Bears cut him after that, leaving him a free agent.
Nonetheless, Cohen wanted to return to the NFL. He attempted a comeback but suffered a torn Achilles while live-streaming a workout. That knocked him out for the 2022 season and threw his career further into question.
The Panthers gave Cohen a chance and signed him to a spot on their practice squad in September 2023, shortly after he was cleared to return. He never played a game for the Panthers but re-signed with the team on a reserve/future deal in the offseason. He was released May 10, and the Jets scooped him up just 19 days later.
MORE: Jets 2024 draft pick named team’s ‘most dangerous addition’
Tarik Cohen stats
Cohen emerged as a great pass-catching running back after the Bears made him a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He caught 53 passes as a rookie and followed that campaign up with 1,169 yards from scrimmage in 2018.
Below is a look at Cohen’s stats from his four years as an NFL player:
| Year | Carries | Rush yards | Rush TDs | Catches | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
| 2017 | 87 | 370 | 2 | 53 | 353 | 1 |
| 2018 | 99 | 444 | 3 | 71 | 725 | 5 |
| 2019 | 64 | 213 | 0 | 79 | 456 | 3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 74 | 0 | 6 | 41 | 0 |
| Career | 264 | 1,101 | 5 | 209 | 1,575 | 9 |
Cohen also has averaged 10.3 yards per punt return during his career. He has one career punt return touchdown, which came during his rookie season in 2017.
Tarik Cohen age
Cohen is 28 years old. He will turn 29 on July 26 ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
With his age, he may have some tread left on the tires if he can stay healthy, especially considering he has less than 500 career offensive NFL touches to his name.
That makes Cohen a worthwhile flier for the Jets, who are already set to have numerous injury question marks on their roster for 2024.
MORE: Jets’ Breece Hall ranked among best RBs for 2024 NFL season
Jets RB depth chart
The question for Cohen becomes: Where does he fit on New York’s roster? The Jets are relatively stacked at running back, especially given that the team spent two Day 3 picks in the 2024 draft on players to compete for touches behind Breece Hall.
Below is a projection of where Cohen might fit on the Jets’ depth chart as he competes for a role with the team.
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Breece Hall |
| 2 | Israel Abanikanda |
| 3 | Braelon Allen |
| 4 | Isaiah Davis |
| 5 | Tarik Cohen |
| 6 | Xazavian Valladay |
| 7 | Markese Stepp |
Cohen at No. 5 may be jarring to some, but the fact is that he hasn’t played in three years should temper expectations for the team and its fans.
Hall figures to be the lead back, while Abanikanda will have the first crack at replacing Dalvin Cook as the top backup. Allen and Davis will push Abanikanda for the role, with each rookie having a solid chance to get involved in the offense.
As such, Cohen has a lot to overcome to make the roster. He must ensure he outplays Valladay and Stepp to earn placement within New York’s organization, but Cohen’s abilities as a return man should help him stake a claim to the No. 3 or No. 4 running back job — especially if Allen or Davis struggles to adjust to the NFL.
Still, Cohen is no roster lock. He’ll need to look like his old self to have a chance to win a spot on the roster.
If he can’t do that, he may be forced to cut his teeth on the practice squad again as he awaits another chance for game action.