Jets signing former Bears running back Tarik Cohen

Like every team in the NFL, the Jets are trying to figure out the best way to attack the new kickoff rule this season. Wednesday, that meant adding a veteran kick returner.

The Jets signed Tarik Cohen, a former All-Pro returner who has not played since 2020 when he played three games for the Bears.

Cohen was on the field for the Jets OTA on Wednesday afternoon — practicing with Aaron Rodgers, his old NFC North rival.

Cohen has missed the past three seasons dealing with some serious injuries.

“An explosive playmaker, he’s starting to get back healthy,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “With the new kickoff rules and these kick returners, they’re going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant. At least that’s what we’re anticipating. A guy like him, he’s still young, obviously coming off his injuries. We’re excited to have him.”

The 28-year-old Cohen was a first-team All-Pro returner in 2018 and was a weapon catching the ball for the Bears as well from 2017-20. He tore his ACL in 2020 and missed all of the 2021 season.

He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2022 that prevented him from playing that season. He spent last year on the Panthers’ practice squad but did not play for Carolina, which cut him this month.

The NFL has approved a new kickoff for 2024, and teams will need two returners. The teams are trying to figure out how to both return and cover kicks under the new rule.

Rodgers praised Saleh last week for taking a bigger role in the offensive meeting room this spring. Saleh explained what led to that increased voice on offense.

“For me, last year was Year 1 [of Nathaniel Hackett’s offense], so there was a lot of learning, even for me,” Saleh said. “It was the first time I had been part of an offense where the quarterback had such a voice. A lot of it was me absorbing along with everybody else and learning this new system. It’s Year 2. It’s the natural evolution, [I’ve] got a really good grasp of the offense, so just trying to provide some insight from a defensive perspective. Just to understand what they’re trying to accomplish and provide some insight. If it feels more, it’s probably like I said last week, there’s a lot more dialogue, including from myself, but it’s more from a defensive perspective.”

Saleh said the Jets plan on having joint practices with the Giants and Commanders in Florham Park before their preseason games, and in North Carolina before their game with the Panthers.