Three years removed from the last time he played a snap in the NFL, Tarik Cohen is on the comeback trail.
The former Chicago Bears running back and return man has agreed to a deal with the Carolina Panthers, Adam Schefter reported.
Former Bears’ RB Tarik Cohen, who has not played in the NFL since suffering ACL and MCL tears as well as a tibial plateau fracture in September 2020, plans to sign Wednesday to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2023
Cohen first gained notoriety during his junior season at North Carolina A&T when he went viral for posting YouTube videos where he would do backflips prior to making catches. He rushed for over 5,000 yards in his four years at NCAT and scored 56 touchdowns.
The Chicago Bears selected Cohen in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and after a fairly unspectacular rookie season, Cohen broke out in 2018. He did a little bit of everything for the Bears, rushing for 444 yards and three touchdowns, hauling in 71 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns, and leading the NFL with 411 punt return yards. Cohen was named an All-Pro return specialist following the season.
In September 2020, the Bears and Cohen agreed on a three-year extension, but the pairing was short-lived. In Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, Cohen suffered debilitating injuries to his ACL, MCL, and tibial plateau after being tackled on a punt return.
Cohen missed all of 2021 while rehabbing his injury and was released by the Bears in March 2022. The injury bug struck Cohen again, as just two months later he tore his Achilles tendon while working out and getting ready to attempt an NFL comeback.
While Cohen’s deal with the Panthers is just for the practice squad, for now, if the North Carolina native can make the active roster at any point this season, it would be one of the best comeback stories in NFL history.
