Comeback Story: Tarik Cohen signs with Panthers |
Everyone loves a great comeback story, especially when it happens to someone who once played on their franchise. Former Chicago Bears RB Tarik Cohen was supposed to be one of the key cogs on the Bears offense for the foreseeable future until a torn ACL ended his season in 2021. Not only that, but Cohen would then struggle to get back to form in 2022 and thus missed all of last season, giving the Bears no choice but to terminate his contract just two years into a four-year extension.
Not knowing what his future would be, Cohen refused to give up and spent the entire summer trying to do what he could in an effort to earn one last opportunity. His hard work appears to be paying off, and teams are noticing how he looks, as Cohen has reportedly been given a tryout with the Carolina Panthers. While I know this isn't Chicago Bears news per se, but Cohen was a beloved in the locker room during his time in Chicago and was a fan favorite at that. To see his career in Chicago end the way it did is just the harsh reality of the game, and the Bears wished him nothing but the best following his release. When healthy, Cohen was a significant part of this offense and was the lightning to the thunder of Jordan Howard back in the day and David Montgomery. He could not only return kicks for you, but could also be used all over the field like a Swiss army knife. Not known as much of a runner, Cohen would still get you 40-45 yards rushing per game while adding close to 50 yards in the receiving game with 10 combined scores. His best season came on the heels of 2018, which netted him that four-year extension heading into the 2020 season. He played a massive part in the team's overall success in 2018, although the end to the season wasn't what anyone hoped for at that point. Cohen was never viewed as the lead back on this team, but he was what you would call a One-A and someone who could do much more than just carry the football. After suffering the torn ACL against the Atlanta Falcons in week three of the 2020 NFL season, Cohen knew he had a long road ahead to get back into the game. He was approaching the peak of his career and had tons of life in front of him, only to have an injury shorten that career. After what seemed like a strange rehab where you didn't see much progress, it was announced just before the 2021 NFL season that Cohen wasn't progressing the way anyone expected, much like Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls. He would eventually be put on the PUP list to begin the season and sat out the rest of the year as he was now going on more than a year without seeing NFL action. A few months later, he was released from the team and saw his future in this league come into question about not knowing what was next. In the year since his release, Cohen never stopped grinding, praying that he would one day get another shot to play football. That day is coming, and it could be coming with the Carolina Panthers as he not only worked out for them, but from all accounts, the workout went well and he signed with them, according to team officials. Talk about your perfect comeback story as not only has Cohen had to deal with his ACL injury, but he also tragically lost his brother in 2021, so to say he has had to deal with adversity over the past three years would be an understatement. Cohen has been writing his comeback story since the day he got hurt, and it has been a long one. When he takes the field again, it will go down as one of the better comeback stories in recent memory, and the fans of Chicago hope he gets that chance. Congratulations to @GSEworldwide client @Mike_Playmaker on signing with @Panthers practice squad Reich on Tarik Cohen’s workout for the team: “He’s ready to play some football.” pic.twitter.com/h1cRUTZz10
