Dallas Cowboys Potential Breakout Star Opens Up About Breakout Play
Special Teams Ace Makes Special Play When Cowboys Needed it Most
If Week 1 is any indication, the 2024 season is Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and special teams ace KaVontae Turpin’s time to shine.
Turpin arrived in Dallas when he signed a three-year contract ahead of the 2022 campaign and went on to become a Pro Bowl returner that season. Sunday in Cleveland, when the Cowboys’ offense had gone stagnant and Dallas needed a spark, Turpin made one of the most impactful plays of his NFL career.
With the Cowboys leading 20-3 in the third quarter, Turpin took a 60-yard Corey Bojorquez punt to the house for his first career punt return for a touchdown.
For the Cowboys, Turpin’s return represented an insurance touchdown in a blowout 33-17 Week 1 victory. Meanwhile, For Turpin, the play could serve as a launchpad as he kicks off the final year of his contract.
"Extreme focus, energy, and excitement going into my contract year season has been the utmost priority for me,” Turpin tells me. “The passion and appreciation for the game itself and the Cowboys organization is what grounds me. Going in to week one, I knew I needed to set the tone and show all the world I belong in the upper echelon of elite NFL athletes on and off the field.”
“The moment the ball left the foot of the punter, I knew it was my time to provide points or positive field advantage for our offensive unit. The moment I embraced the punt, I envisioned the path it took to get in the end zone. My return team executed blocks just as we planned and it was my top priority to show my appreciation for them by doing my part. And that's rewarding them by getting in the end zone. I win we all win. That's always my thought on every special team and offensive unit play."
Not every game for the Cowboys is going to come against an offense that managed just 3.3 yards per play, and special teams plays such as Turpin’s return have the potential to make or break the outcome of games.
“Speed, speed, speed,” an NFL special teams coach tells me when asked his thoughts on Turpin’s best attribute. “He’s a special player! He accelerates so, so quickly.”
Moreover, Turpin’s first-ever return touchdown shows that he has the speed capable of contributing big plays in the game’s biggest moments. Be it on special teams, or even on offense.
Through his first three seasons, Turpin has caught 13 passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns while adding one rushing touchdown last season.
If Turpin is given an extended run at receiver, currently listed fifth on the depth chart with only Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks standing in his way from becoming the Cowboys’ slot receiver, he might prove capable of being a diamond in the rough-impact contributor on offense, as well.
PODCAST
What’s Next at Between The Hashmarks
Here’s what you can expect from Between The Hashmarks in the coming days:
Thursday Night Football: Each Thursday night, I’ll be live-posting my thoughts on the Thursday Night Game, and interacting with readers and subscribers. Think of it as the best of what Twitter used to be. Join the fun, tonight, for what promises to be an amazing game with major playoff implications between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.
Monday: 4 Downs, my all-encompassing recap of the biggest storylines, moments, and plays from the NFL weekend, contextualized with insight from sources around the league and projecting ahead what all of the action means in the big picture of the 2024 NFL season.
Tuesday: The Between The Hashmarks Podcast, where I’m joined by friend and mentor
of The Too Deep Zone and we delve into the biggest storylines across the league. You can subscribe to the Between The Hashmarks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, and please leave us a five-star rating and review, which helps grow the show and get the podcast in front of more listeners!