Tarik Cohen, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2020, was attempting to earn a spot on the Jets 53-man roster after signing with the team in May. He was officially moved to the reserve/retired list on Thursday.
New York Jets’ Tarik Cohen, the 29-year-old running back and return specialist, has decided to hang up his cleats for good, calling time on his NFL career in a shock pre-season retirement.
Cohen, who last played in the league in 2020, was trying to secure a place on the Jets’ 53-man roster after joining the team in May. His retirement was made official on Thursday when he was placed on the reserve/retired list.
The Jets are no strangers to unexpected retirements during training camp. Last August, the team was caught off guard when veteran wide receiver Corey Davis abruptly announced he was “stepping away from football.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, Cohen expressed optimism about his return, saying: “I definitely feel all the way back”. He had reduced his weight from 208 pounds down to 191 in his bid to make a comeback.
Cohen shared his aspirations with the team: “I’m just trying to show the Jets the explosiveness that I have, the smartness that I’ve gained from being in the league, and lift as I rise – help all the guys in my position group.”
However, in a turn of events reminiscent of last year’s sudden retirement of Aaron Rodgers’ teammate Corey Davis, Cohen informed the Jets of his decision to retire just days later. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round in 2017 from North Carolina A&T, Cohen spent his entire four-season NFL tenure with the Bears.
In 2018, Cohen earned First-Team All-Pro honours as a punt returner, topping the league with 411 return yards. Additionally, he contributed over 1150 scrimmage yards that season, aiding the Bears in breaking an eight-year playoff absence with an 11-5 record.
Many within the Jets camp have been praising Cohen’s recent performances. “There’s some things to clean up and stuff, but he’s a hell of a player and he’s got really good vision, really good run skills, said special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. ” said special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. “We’ll see how it shakes out in the end.”
Even head coach Robert Saleh was impressed, stating that Cohen “got his juice back”. Now, Saleh will have to reorganise his running back and returner depth chart without Cohen.
Cohen was partially brought in as a potential solution to the NFL’s new kickoff rules. He was competing with second-year player Xavier Gipson — known for his 2023 NFL week 1 walk-off return against Buffalo – for the starting position.
“The potential, I feel like it’s great for returners,” Cohen commented on the new rules. “If you’ve got a good return team and great returners setting it up like [Xavier] Gipson and myself and a great scheme as well, I feel like there’s a lot of different things you can do with it.”
The Jets are mostly settled at running back with Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Gipson, who is currently injured, is expected to be both the kickoff and punt returner.