Like every team in the NFL, the Jets are trying to figure out the best way to attack the new kickoff rule this season. On Wednesday, that meant adding a veteran kick returner.
The Jets signed former All-Pro returner Tarik Cohen, who hasn’t played since 2020, when he played in three games for the Bears.
Cohen was on site at Jets OTAs Wednesday afternoon, practicing alongside his longtime NFC North rival Aaron Rodgers.
Cohen has missed the past three seasons due to serious injuries.
“An explosive playmaker, he’s starting to get healthy,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “With the new kickoff rules and these kick returners, they’re going to be touching the ball more than 100 times a year. This makes a lot of sense. At least that’s what we expect. People like him are still young and must have escaped injury. We are very excited to have him.”
Cohen, 28, was a first-team All-Pro returning player in 2018 and was also a ball-catching weapon for the Bears from 2017 to 2020. He tore his ACL in 2020 and missed all of the 2021 season.
He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2022 and was unable to play that season. He spent last year on the Panthers’ practice squad but did not play for Carolina, so he was ruled out this month.
The NFL has approved a new kickoff for 2024 and the team needs two returners. Teams are trying to figure out how to perform both return kicks and cover kicks under the new rules.
Rodgers praised Saleh last week for playing a bigger role in the offensive room this spring. Saleh explained why he spoke out against the attack.
“For me, last year was freshman year. [of Nathaniel Hackett’s offense], so there was a lot of learning for me as well,” Saleh said. “It was the first time I’ve ever been part of an offense where a quarterback was vocal like that. A lot of it was me absorbing and learning this new system along with everyone else. This is my second year. It’s a natural evolution. [I’ve] Since we have a really good understanding of the offense, we tried to provide insight from a defensive perspective. To understand and provide insight into what they are trying to achieve. If it feels like there’s more, as I said last week, there’s more conversation, including from me, but it’s more from a defensive perspective.”
Saleh said the Jets plan to hold joint practices with the Giants and Commanders at Florham Park before a preseason game and in North Carolina before a game against the Panthers.
