Former Chicago Bears Pro-Bowler Tarik Cohen returns to the NFL

Chicago Bears fans will be paying close attention to the Carolina Panthers during the 2023-2024 NFL Regular Season as the Bears hold the rights to the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick. Still, fans may see a familiar face on the Panthers before the season is over.

Former Bears running back Tarik Cohen has not played in the NFL since tearing his ACL during Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season and after a series of setbacks, Cohen appeared to be preparing for a return to the NFL prior to the 2022 season.

Unfortunately, Cohen tore his Achilles while working out in May of 2022, and the former Pro-Bowler was forced to miss all last season.

Cohen is fully healthy and made it known to NFL teams over the past month that he was ready to return. Cohen told fans that the Bears were not among the teams that had expressed interest but it did not take him long to find a job.

News broke late Tuesday night that Cohen had signed a deal with the Panthers to join the team’s practice squad.

Former Chicago Bears Pro-Bowler Tarik Cohen is back in the NFL.

Given the fact that the Panthers at the very start of their rebuild around 2023 first-overall pick, quarterback Bryce Young, there is a chance for Cohen to make the active roster before the end of the season if he can prove to be healthy.

Former Philadelphia Eagles star running back Miles Sanders was one of the prized signings of the Panthers’ off-season. Sanders totaled 72 rushing yards in the Panthers’ Week 1 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Cohen, when healthy, was at his best as a twitchy running back who could make plays both as running back and receiver out of the backfield. That would be an ideal compliment to Sanders and a nice safety net for a rookie quarterback.