Like each staff within the NFL, the Jets try to determine the easiest way to assault the brand new kickoff rule this season. Wednesday, that meant including a veteran kick returner.
The Jets signed Tarik Cohen, a former All-Professional returner who has not performed since 2020 when he performed three video games for the Bears.
Cohen was on the sphere for the Jets OTA on Wednesday afternoon — practising with Aaron Rodgers, his outdated NFC North rival.
Cohen has missed the previous three seasons coping with some severe accidents.
“An explosive playmaker, he’s beginning to get again wholesome,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated. “With the brand new kickoff guidelines and these kick returners, they’re going to the touch the ball over 100 occasions a yr, which is critical. A minimum of that’s what we’re anticipating. A man like him, he’s nonetheless younger, clearly coming off his accidents. We’re excited to have him.”
The 28-year-old Cohen was a first-team All-Professional returner in 2018 and was a weapon catching the ball for the Bears as properly from 2017-20. He tore his ACL in 2020 and missed all the 2021 season.
He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2022 that prevented him from taking part in that season. He spent final yr on the Panthers’ follow squad however didn’t play for Carolina, which reduce him this month.
The NFL has accredited a brand new kickoff for 2024, and groups will want two returners. The groups try to determine the best way to each return and canopy kicks beneath the brand new rule.
Rodgers praised Saleh final week for taking an even bigger function within the offensive assembly room this spring. Saleh defined what led to that elevated voice on offense.
“For me, final yr was Yr 1 [of Nathaniel Hackett’s offense], so there was a variety of studying, even for me,” Saleh stated. “It was the primary time I had been a part of an offense the place the quarterback had such a voice. Numerous it was me absorbing together with all people else and studying this new system. It’s Yr 2. It’s the pure evolution, [I’ve] obtained a extremely good grasp of the offense, so simply making an attempt to offer some perception from a defensive perspective. Simply to know what they’re making an attempt to perform and supply some perception. If it feels extra, it’s most likely like I stated final week, there’s much more dialogue, together with from myself, but it surely’s extra from a defensive perspective.”
Saleh stated the Jets plan on having joint practices with the Giants and Commanders in Florham Park earlier than their preseason video games, and in North Carolina earlier than their recreation with the Panthers.
