Chicago Bears running back and return specialist Tarik Cohen is being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as training camp begins in Lake Forest this week. Cohen is still working back from the season-ending knee injury he suffered last fall, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while making a fair catch on a punt return in Week 3.
The Bears remain hopeful that Cohen will be back at full health by the time the regular season starts in September. But for now they are taking a cautious approach with the fifth-year veteran and won’t mix him back into practice action at the outset of training camp.
The Bears have every expectation that Cohen will get clearance to practice at some point during the preseason. But if he were to remain on the PUP list into the regular season, he would be required to miss at least the first six games.
Cohen’s best season came in 2018, when he led the Bears with 71 receptions and totaled 1,169 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. He was also named to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist after averaging 12.5 yards per punt return that year.
Cohen’s numbers fell off the following season when he had just 669 yards from scrimmage despite recording 79 catches and 64 carries. Before his ACL injury last season, he had 14 carries for 74 yards and six receptions for 41 yards. The Bears signed him to a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension a week before his knee injury occurred.
Bears quarterbacks and rookies were allowed to begin reporting to training camp at Halas Hall this weekend. The official report date for the rest of the team is Tuesday. The team’s first practice is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
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