In recent memory, Tarik Cohen has endured arguably one of the worst three-year spans for an NFL player. Coming off his All-Pro year in 2018, he was flying high with the Chicago Bears. Then, over the course of the next 36 months, his brother was shot and paralyzed, his other brother died from electrocution, and Cohen himself tore multiple ligaments in his knee. He hasn’t played an NFL down since September 2020.
After getting released by the Bears a few months ago, the running back had high hopes he was ready to return to the field after such a long layoff. He’s been working out and stated that he finally felt like his body was back to 100% in a recent article. Things were going fine as he posted another video on Instagram of him going through drills. That was when disaster struck. Cohen was seen crumpling to the floor and immediately grasped at the back of his right ankle.
Judging by his reaction, it is likely a torn Achilles tendon.
For those who don’t understand, there is no injury more widely feared by NFL players next to a torn ACL than the torn Achilles. Depending on the severity, the recovery time from such a setback is typically nine months. In other words, Tarik Cohen is done before the 2022 season even began. By this time next year, he’ll have gone without playing for almost three full seasons. What makes it so much worse is this has occurred during his 25th, 26th, and 27th birthdays. His physical prime.
The earning potential of running backs, in general, is the worst of any position in the NFL. Now teams are even less likely to take a chance on one that shredded both his knee and Achilles. That is what makes it all the crueler. If he played any other position, he might still have a future. After this, he may never play in the league again.
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UPDATE:
It was indeed confirmed by ESPN and other sources that Cohen ruptured his Achilles. He is done for the 2022 season and some wonder if his career might be over. One can only hope that isn’t the case.
