Former NFL star poised for unlikely comeback after three-year injury nightmare

13 September 2023 , 19:41

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Tarik Cohen has signed for the Carolina Panthers after two injury-hit seasons

Tarik Cohen is set to make an incredible NFL comeback after two nightmare years away from the league after signing for the Carolina Panthers.

The 28-year-old had been one of the best kick-off and punt returners in the NFL for three seasons, before cruelly suffering two brutal injuries. In 2020, Cohen suffered an ACL tear just weeks after signing a three-year contract extension for the Chicago Bears, before missing the following 2021 season continuing to recover from that injury.

After making it back, the Bears then decided to release Cohen - with the player struggling to find a new team in free agency. Looking to impress team's in workouts, Cohen held a pro-day on his Instagram Live where he had been going through drills, and tore his Achilles tendon just minutes into the video.

This saw Cohen ruled out for the entire 2022 season, and was not on an NFL team - having to go through the rehabilitation process alone.

The speedy offensive player has now played just three games since the end of the 2019 season, and had been looking for an opportunity to get back into the league after his most recent recovery.

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And this week, the Panthers have signed him to the practice squad, where he will look to impress the team to make it to the 53-man roster.

The Panthers currently have three running backs on the roster in starter Miles Sanders, along with Raheem Blackshear and Chuba Hubbard - but Cohen could quickly find a place being a kick returner on the team.

Cohen has proven to be a strong offensive weapon when healthy, with over 1,500 all-purpose yards in his first two years in the league when used as a running back, receiver and returner.

Cohen has played just three games since the end of the 2019 season

One of the smallest players in the league at 5'6", Cohen made a name for himself with the Bears as a do-it-all offensive player, even drawing comparisons to former Panther, Christian McCaffery.

With rookie quarterback Bryce Young in as the starter in a season which could be rocky for the team, Cohen could provide good depth at the aforementioned positions, while giving Young an option to throw too to quickly get the ball out.

The Panthers begun their season with a tough loss to division rivals Atlanta Falcons, and will face the New Orleans Saints this upcoming weekend before travelling to Seattle to face the Seahawks.

Charlie Wilson