New York Jets running back and return specialist Tarik Cohen shockingly calls it a career

In a surprising piece of news, New York Jets running back and return specialist Tarik Cohen has announced his retirement from football, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cohen, 29, was in the middle of an impressive training camp in which he was drawing rave reviews for his play from coaches and media alike.

Cohen had just spoken to the media after practice on Tuesday and seemed excited about his outlook with the team. “When you are out of the league, and you are out of a locker room, you missed that vibe, you know, that camaraderie with your teammates and your brothers. So it’s great to be back in that,” said Cohen.

The former All-Pro returner battled back from various injuries to make it into camp with the Jets. He tore his ACL and MCL in Week 3 of the 2020 season, sidelining him for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021. Cohen then tore his Achilles tendon in the 2022 offseason.

After he was cleared to play in 2023, Cohen signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, although he spent the majority of the year on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and never appeared in a game.

Cohen signed with the Jets in May and was poised to compete for the Jets’ fourth running back spot against players like Israel Abanikanda and Xazavian Valladay. He was also one of the leading contenders for the Jets’ return role, competing against Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley among others. Cohen said on Tuesday that he thought the NFL’s new kickoff rules were a great fit for him, stating, “It’s very exciting for me. It’s a custom-tailored position they just added to football, that I can compete and play and do well in.”

Cohen’s retirement clears the way for Abanikanda and Valladay to make their cases for the Jets’ fourth running back spot. It also increases Gipson and Corley’s odds of winning the kick returner role.