Tarik Cohen Returns to NFL

Former Bears multipurpose player Tarik Cohen is signing with the Carolina Panthers practice squad according to agent Drew Rosenhaus via Adam Schefter of ESPN.

It's possible the Bears and Tarik Cohen might be getting together again, after all.

He won't be playing for Chicago but the 2017 fourth-round Bears draft pick could wind up playing against them as he has signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad, according to a report by Adam Schefter, who cited agent Drew Rosenhaus as his source.

The Bears host the Panthers Nov. 9 in a Thursday night game.

Cohen last played for Chicago in the third game of the 2020 season, when he called a fair catch against Atlanta, was hit in the leg and was sidelined with an ACL tear, MCL tear and tibial plateau fracture. Then Cohen suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while working out as he was trying to rehab from the knee injuries.

It's been one tragedy after another for his family. Cohen lost twin brother Tyrell in a reported accident when he was electrocuted. His other brother, Dante, who had been paralyzed by a gun shot, later died in a car accident.

Awesome comeback news: Former #Bears RB Tarik Cohen is returning back in the NFL after 3 years, with the #Panthers

The electrifying RB hasn't played in a game since 2020 due to injuries but according to his wife he's signing with Carolina. Not yet official from the team but he… pic.twitter.com/4ncB0DBevE

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 12, 2023

One of the more popular Bears of the last decade, the 5-foot-6, 191-pound will be returning home with the Panthers. He is a native of Bunn, NC and played in college at North Carolina A&T.

In four seasons and 51 games, Cohen rushed for 1,101 yards on 264 carries and caught 209 passes for 1,575 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns on offense.

As a return man, he returned 96 punts for a 10.3-yard average with one touchdown and had 30 kick returns with a 20.9-yard average.

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