Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Gets more involved in offense
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Turpin caught 12 of 18 targets for 127 yards and three touchdowns, gained 110 yards and a TD on 11 carries and added 371 return yards over 16 regular-season games in 2023.
Teams learned not to kick it to Turpin after his impressive rookie campaign as a returner in 2022, but the Cowboys found ways to get the ball in his hands on offense instead, and the 27-year-old delivered one of the most eye-popping TD-to-touch ratios in the league. Turpin's last touchdown came Week 12, though, and he got only five touches in seven games down the stretch, including Dallas' wild-card loss to Green Bay. He has one more season left on his current contract worth less than $1 million, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Cowboys signed him to an extension this offseason given his value on special teams and as a gadget player on offense.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Hauls in Thanksgiving TD
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Turpin caught his only target for a 34-yard touchdown in a 45-10 rout of the Commanders on Thanksgiving.
The second-year return man continues to get occasional usage on offense as the Cowboys try to take advantage of his speed and elusiveness, and Turpin's lone grab Thursday produced the team's final offensive score of the afternoon. It's his third receiving TD of the season and fourth overall on just 18 touches, and while that volume doesn't give him a lot of utility in many fantasy leagues, he's provided some value in deeper best-ball leagues.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Three touches in return
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Turpin gained 13 rushing yards on his lone carry and caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's win over the Panthers.
After missing last week's rout of the Giants with a shoulder injury, Turpin returned to his usual role as the main kick returner for Dallas and a gadget player on offense, although Carolina never gave him a chance to make an impact in the return game. Turpin has only 17 touches in nine games this season but has scored three TDs, and he remains a threat to break a big play any time he has the ball in his hands ahead of a meeting with the Commanders on Thanksgiving.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Returns to field
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Turpin (shoulder) was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Turpin was unable to practice last week and ultimately sat out the team's win over the Giants on Sunday. The 27-year-old has now put that injury behind him with a return to full participation and should be ready to take the field Sunday against the Panthers.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Sitting out Sunday
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Turpin (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's Week 10 game against the Giants, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Turpin was never able to get on the practice field during Week 10 prep and was believed to be trending toward an absence as a result, and that is now officially confirmed. With the speedy reserve wideout and primary returner out of action Sunday, rookies Jalen Brooks and Deuce Vaughn are in line to fill his No. 5 receiver role and special-teams duties, respectively, versus New York.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Likely to sit out Sunday
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Turpin (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, is considered unlikely to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dallas will evaluate Turpin in pregame warmups before making a call on his status ahead of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, but the 27-year-old looks to be trending toward sitting out after failing to practice in any fashion Wednesday through Friday. Turpin typically holds only a minor role on offense as a gadget player, but he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 for his efforts as a kickoff and punt returner. Rookie Deuce Vaughn will likely handle return duties Sunday if Turpin is out.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Sits out practice again
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Turpin (shoulder/hip) didn't take part in practice Thursday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Turpin has now missed two consecutive practices to begin Week 10 prep while he contends with a pair of injuries. The 27-year-old has seen a slight uptick in snaps on offense of late and has garnered three touches over his last two contests, but Turpin is primarily valued for his contributions as a return man. Archer notes that Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle and Juanyeh Thomas worked as the Cowboys' kickoff returners at Thursday's practice, while Vaughn worked as the team's punt returner.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Misses practice
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Turpin was held out of Wednesday's practice with a shoulder injury.
A 2022 Pro Bowl selection, Turpin brings most of his value to the Cowboys in the return game, as he notably brought back kicks for gains of 48 and 63 yards over the past two games. He's also done well with his limited chances on offense this season, carrying seven times for 66 yards and a touchdown while adding seven catches for 69 yards and two scores on nine targets. The Cowboys may turn to Deuce Vaughn to handle returns if Turpin isn't ready to play this Sunday against the Giants.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Makes impact in return game
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Turpin caught one of two targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 43-20 win over the Rams. He added 88 yards on two kickoff returns.
The second-year speedster set up Dallas' third touchdown of the day with a 63-yard return early in the second quarter, and he took another kick to the house later in the game only to have it wiped out by a penalty. Turpin's average of 28.4 yards per kickoff return is fourth in the league among players with at least five returns, and the Cowboys' efforts to get the ball in his hands on offense have resulted in one rushing and one receiving TD this season on only 12 touches.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Practices fully Friday
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Turpin (ankle) returned to full practice participation Friday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Turpin didn't practice Thursday due to an ankle injury, but he was back in there without limitations Friday. Dallas won't release its injury report for Monday's matchup with the Chargers until Saturday, but barring a setback, Turpin will likely avoid an injury designation, allowing him to fill his usual role as a return man and part-time offensive player.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Breaks long gain in Sunday's rout
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Turpin gained 46 rushing yards on his only carry, caught his only target for five yards and added 13 yards on two punt returns in Sunday's 38-3 win over the Patriots.
The second-year gadget player nearly took a jet sweep to the end zone early in the fourth quarter, but Turpin got caught from behind and fumbled the ball in the red zone. Fortunately for Turpin, tight end Sean McKeon was able recover it. Turpin has seen only five touches on offense over the last three weeks, but with No. 2 running back Rico Dowdle (hip) potentially set to miss some time, he could see more work out of the backfield alongside rookie Deuce Vaughn. Turpin's big-play ability isn't likely to show up Week 5 against an elite 49ers defense, however.
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Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin: Making an impression
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Turpin is one of eight players who has impressed during training camp, Jon Machota of the Athletic reports.
Turpin impressed as the team's return man last season and continues to show off those skills in camp. More importantly, Turpin is continuing to improve as a receiver and has been consistently making plays on offense. The second-year pro should make the 53-man roster due to his previously mentioned special-teams skills, but he may be making a case for a larger role on offense as well.
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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: 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: 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.
