Carolina Panthers release veteran RB Tarik Cohen
With rookie minicamp about to start, the Panthers released one of their veterans — Tarik Cohen. The running back/returnman had been attempting a comeback after suffering severe injuries to his knee and Achilles since 2020.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He posted on X:
“Panthers released veteran running back Tarik Cohen, who was attempting a comeback from a series of injuries that derailed his time as a Pro-Bowl returner with the Bears. Cohen hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2020.”
Bears selected Cohen in 4th round of 2017 NFL Draft
Cohen got his start in the NFL when the Bears drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. This former star at North Carolina A&T was the 10th back selected in the draft.
Cohen made his mark on the NFL in the return game. By his second year in the league, Cohen earned first-team All Pro and a Pro Bowl invite as a return specialist.
Cohen spent last season on Panthers practice squad
Early in the 2020 season, Cohen suffered his first significant injury. He was attempting to field a punt when a defender knocked into him. He tore the ACL and MCL and sustained a tibial plateau fracture. The injury was so significant that Cohen couldn’t play in 2021. Then in late spring of 2022, he was live streaming a workout via Instagram. And during the live stream, he tore his Achilles.
The Panthers signed him in 2023 as Cohen wanted to revive his comeback. Doctors cleared him for play by August. Carolina placed him on the practice squad. He even spent some time on injured reserve with a strained hamstring.
He was set to make the NFL veteran minimum of $1,125,000 this season if he’d stuck with the Panthers.
The Panthers had been adding depth at running back. Carolina took former Texas Longhorn Jonathon Brooks in the second round of last month’s draft. Brooks was the first running back selected in the draft. Carolina also signed veteran free agent Rashaad Penny. The Panthers already had Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard.