A 5-foot-6 running back who burst onto the NFL scene with the Chicago Bears has retired.

ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini confirmed Thursday that running back Tarik Cohen has decided to retire, a source tells ESPN. The news was considered a surprise as Cohen had worked his way back from multiple serious injuries.

“Cohen was having a good camp and spoke enthusiastically about his prospects,” Cimini reported, noting that Cohen said “I definitely feel all the way back,” on Tuesday.

The speedy and shifty Cohen, 29, was drafted by the Bears out of North Carolina A&T in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He totaled 2676 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns in his first four years as a pro.

His best season was in 2018 when he ran for 444 yards and caught 71 passes for 725 yards. He scored nine total touchdowns and earned All-Pro honors as a return specialist.

Cohen suffered a torn ACL and MCL, along with a tibia fracture during the 2020 season, and missed all of 2021 as a result. In 2022, he suffered a torn Achilles while training in hopes of a return, an incident seen on a social media livestream.

He caught on with the Panthers practice squad last season but didn’t play in the regular season. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets in May and was in the mix to return punts and kicks.