Bears like Tarik Cohen's aggressiveness, not his punt return decision

Bears like Tarik Cohen’s aggressiveness, not his punt return decision

By Patrick Finley

When Tarik Cohen muffed a punt Sunday as it rolled to a stop, special-teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers thought about Tavon Austin and Trindon Holliday.

Rodgers has shown the Bears clips of each player picking up a rolling punt and returning it for a touchdown. Austin, the Rams wide receiver, took one 99 yards.

That’s where the similarities stopped.

Unlike those two, Cohen tried to field a ball that had been bouncing for 15 yards, surrounded by three Buccaneers, with no teammates to block for him. He muffed the ball, and the Bucs recovered and threw for a touchdown on the next play.

Cohen said he learned his lesson.

“Stay away from the ball in that situation,” he said Thursday. “I had already waved off my guy. So I was in a battle by myself. I just need to get away from it.”

Rodgers said the coaching point was about where the blockers and tacklers were.

“I think proximity of opponents has more to do with it than anything else,” he said.

Cohen can pick up the ball again, in a different circumstance. Rodgers wants him to have confidence when he does.

“He’s trying to make an aggressive play, and that’s always going to be in his nature,” he said. “That’s what you like about the kid.”

Long, Amukamara full go

Guard Kyle Long and cornerback Prince Amukamara were full practice participants for the first time, seemingly clearing the way for both to return from their ankle injuries Sunday against the Steelers. Long had ankle surgery in December.

“Our medical people think he’s ready,” coach John Fox said. “Our coaches think he’s ready. We’ll see how much he can endure, whether we have him on any kind of a pitch count. It’s looking very promising.”

Quarterback Mark Sanchez returned to practice after missing Wednesday with a neck injury, and running back Benny Cunningham was a full participant only 11 days after suffering a high ankle sprain.

“The training staff did an amazing job getting me back to where I needed to be,” Cunningham said.

This and that

The Bears are still evaluating inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski’s pectoral injury, Fox said, and haven’t decided whether he’ll go on injured reserve. Fox would prefer to have an answer quickly.

“We’re in a unique situation with that where, obviously, the sooner, the better,” he said. “But it hasn’t hurt our preparation.”

υ Guard Josh Sitton missed his second consecutive practice with a rib injury. Tight end Zach Miller sat out for personal reasons.

υ Guard Tom Compton, who hurt his hip against the Bucs, was limited one day after missing practice. Running back Jordan Howard, defensive end Akiem Hicks and wide receiver Kendall Wright were all limited with shoulder injuries.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com