There’s no one like Tarik Cohen. Whomever takes his snaps won’t be able to replicate the versatility, or the electricity, the running back has given the Bears over the first three-and-a-half years of his career.
The Bears talked Monday as though they’ll stay in-house — at least at first — to replace Cohen’s snaps after they confirmed he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee returning a punt Sunday. He’s out for the year.
“We feel very confident with the guys that we have in our room,” running backs coach Charles London said. “Obviously, David [Montgomery] has had a good start to his season, and I expect him just to continue to get better and better each week. Cordarrelle [Patterson] has given us a lot at the running back position. He gets better and better each week as he gets more and more comfortable with his spot, with what we’ve been asking him to do. So [we] have no concerns there.”
He said he expects to “see a little more” out of Ryan Nall — who has two career rushes and one career catch — on offense.
Rather than splitting a running back out wide to replace Cohen, the Bears could always use an extra receiver — perhaps rookie Darnell Mooney and speedster Ted Ginn on the field together — to pose a similar speed threat.
“You love the kid,” coach Matt Nagy said. “He worked hard to get to this point. He’ll be in our corner; we’ll be in his corner.”
