Tarik Cohen has taken another step in his NFL comeback attempt.
Cohen has signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. The running back’s wife shared the news in a post to her Instagram story on Tuesday.
According to Tarik Cohen’s Wife IG, the #Panthers signed RB Tarik Cohen. Waiting on official word, but Cohen could be coming to Carolina and making a comeback in the NFL. #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/hV3t01NLOi
— panthers.breakdown (@panthersbreakd) September 12, 2023
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Cohen is officially expected to sign on Wednesday to join the team’s practice squad.
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
In late August, Cohen’s agents made it known that the running back wanted to make a comeback. A few weeks later, he is getting a shot, which is a big deal considering all Cohen has battled.
Cohen tore his ACL and MCL during a Week 3 contest against the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He missed the entire 2021 season trying to recover from the injury. As Cohen was gearing up for a 2022 season return in May of last year, he tore the Achilles tendon on his right leg while live-streaming a workout via his Instagram account.
Cohen has dealt with a lot of adversity both on and off the field over the past few years. The former Bears RB lost his twin brother Tyrell in a tragic accident in 2021.
The Bears selected Cohen in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Cohen served as both the backup RB and primary punt returner for Chicago from 2017 to 2019. He received a Pro Bowl nod and was named first-team All-Pro in 2018 as a punt returner. Cohen tallied 15 combined touchdowns as a rusher, receiver, and punt returner across 51 games for the Bears.
Part of the Panthers’ interest in Cohen is likely attributed to Carolina special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who served as the Bears’ special teams coordinator from 2018-2021.
Former #Bears RB Tarik Cohen had a tryout for the #Panthers today. Carolina special teams coordinator Chris Tabor would obviously know Cohen well. Big question has to be his health after serious knee injury.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 12, 2023
