The Jets added another piece to their offense ahead of training camp this offseason with the signing of former Bears and Pro Bowl running back Tarik Cohen, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Terms of the deal were not immediately reported.
Cohen, 28, hasn't played in the NFL since he tore his ACL, MCL and fractured his fibula in Week 3 of the 2020 season. Cohen attempted a comeback in 2022 but tore his Achilles during an offseason training session. He signed with the Panthers practice squad in 2023 but landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury for most of the year and never saw the field during the regular season.
It's unclear what Cohen's role will be in New York or if he'll even have one. He was a successful dual-threat running back for the Bears early in his career with 453 total touches for 2,561 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2017 to 2019.
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Cohen made the Pro Bowl in 2018 as a return specialist after he led the NFL with 411 return yards on 33 punts. He averaged more than 10 yards per punt return in his career. Cohen also returned 30 career kickoffs for 628 yards in his career.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh more or less revealed Cohen would be used primarily on special teams almost immediately after the news broke. Saleh pumped his fist in excitement at the podium when he heard the news and noted Cohen's explosive playmaking ability in the return game. He pinpointed the NFL's new kickoff rules as a reason why the Jets wanted Cohen.
"Tarik — explosive playmaker. He's starting to get back healthy," Saleh said Wednesday. "With the new kickoff rules, these kick returners, they're going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant. At least, that's what we're anticipated. And A guy like him, he's still young. Obviously coming off his injuries but we're excited to have him aboard."
The Jets already have a pretty robust running back room between Breece Hall, Izzy Abanikanda and 2024 rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. It's unlikely New York will carry five running backs on the roster, meaning at least one of the four won't make the team. The most likely candidate is Abanikanda, who was a fifth-round pick in 2023 but couldn't make a name for himself as a rookie behind Hall.
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Cohen's presence also takes some pressure off of second-year undrafted free agent Xavier Gipson, who returned 33 punts for 319 yards and 22 kickoffs for 511 yards. Gipson could remain a factor in the Jets' special teams plans but could also now see more offensive snaps in 2024 after he caught 21 passes for 229 yards this past season.
The Cohen deal is more a big deal and not a big deal. It shouldn't affect the Jets' offense as much, but it does perhaps signal the Jets' plans on special teams with the new kickoff rules.
