Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Hopes to get more offensive chances
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Appearing on the Blogging the Boys podcast, Turpin said he hopes to get more chances on offense in 2023.
After being named the MVP of the USFL in 2022, Turpin signed a three-year deal with Dallas and made the Pro Bowl as a returner. He played just 62 snaps on offense, however, rushing three times for 17 yards and catching one of two targets for nine yards. With both Noah Brown and T.Y. Hilton slated for free agency, Turpin wants a shot to play more snaps. "They are going to try and get me on the offense and try to make guys respect me more on both sides of the ball," Turpin said. "I'm going into this training camp, I'm basically trying to show them that they have no choice but to use me on offense, that's my mindset." At 5-foot-9, 153 pounds, Turpin would do well to carve out a role in special packages. He's unlikely to come into fantasy relevance.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Shines on special teams
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Turpin finished seventh in the NFL with 808 return yards and fifth with a 10.4 yard average on punt returns over 17 regular-season games in 2022.
The 26-year-old rookie saw little work on offense, taking three carries for 17 yards and catching one of two targets for nine yards, but the 2021 USFL MVP became a 2022 NFL Pro Bowler due to his prowess in the return game. Turpin didn't manage to return a kick for a touchdown but came close on multiple occasions, and with two more years remaining on the very affordable contract he signed last July, he should be a key weapon on special teams for the Cowboys again in 2023.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Suiting up Week 18
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Turpin (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The reigning USFL MVP and Pro Bowl returner will therefore sidestep inactive status for the finale after being added to the injury report Friday. Turpin should continue to operate in his usual special-teams capacity versus Washington, although he perhaps could also see some snaps on offense if the Cowboys sit some of their starters early in the regular-season finale.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Dealing with illness
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Turpin didn't practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup against Washington due to an illness.
Turpin landed on the injury report Friday as a non-participant with an illness, and his availability for Sunday's regular-season finale is now in jeopardy. If he doesn't suit up, Tony Pollard and CeeDee Lamb may be asked to handle more return opportunities, though Dallas likely wouldn't want to put two of its most important offensive weapons in too many of those situations with the playoffs looming.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Carries once in Week 8 win
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Turpin played six of the Cowboys' 57 snaps on offense in Sunday's 49-29 win over the Bears, finishing with one carry for 11 yards.
Though he's listed as a receiver on the Cowboys' official roster, Turpin has logged three carries (for 17 yards) compared to one target through his first eight NFL games. In addition to serving as the Cowboys' top option on kickoff and punt returns, the 5-foot-9, 153-pound Turpin is expected to continue to see most of his limited opportunities on offense as a gadget player during the second half of the season.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Two return TDs against Bolts
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Turpin recorded a 98-yard kickoff return and an 86-yard punt return, both for touchdowns, in Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers.
He also gained seven yards on his only carry, but it was Turpin's electric work on special teams that had the entire league buzzing Saturday night. Per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, the 5-foot-7 rookie has a spot on the 53-man roster sewn up, and given the Cowboys' lack of depth at wide receiver heading into Week 1 that could translate into more than just a role as the team's top return man.
