{"id":51968,"date":"2022-08-21T13:19:35","date_gmt":"2022-08-21T13:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kavontae-turpin-electrifies-dallas-cowboys-with-two-return-touchdowns\/"},"modified":"2022-08-21T13:19:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-21T13:19:35","slug":"kavontae-turpin-electrifies-dallas-cowboys-with-two-return-touchdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kavontae-turpin-electrifies-dallas-cowboys-with-two-return-touchdowns\/","title":{"rendered":"KaVontae Turpin electrifies Dallas Cowboys with two return touchdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - NFL training camp tea leaves: Will Dallas or Philadelphia win the NFC East?\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoriEpstein\/status\/1561207788818530310\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">KaVontae Turpin had shown this<\/a> during an electric college career at TCU three-plus years ago.  He&#8217;d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoriEpstein\/status\/1552511100498825216\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">flashed his rare ability again<\/a> this spring in the USFL during his league-MVP campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">And Saturday night, with a 98-yard kick return touchdown followed by an 86-yard punt return touchdown, Turpin proved it again: He is a legitimate threat in the return game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin&#8217;s performance in a 32-18 victory over the Chargers likely solidified his spot on the Cowboys&#8217; 53-man roster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cI got the heart of a lion,\u201d Turpin told the CBS broadcast during a sideline interview.  \u201cSo I&#8217;m just trying to use my speed, use my ability that God gave me to my advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">MORE:<\/strong>Which NFL playoff teams will return to field and which won&#8217;t?  Ranking all 14 teams by 2022 outlook<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">OPINION:<\/strong>In the Deshaun Watson mess, the Browns got exactly what they bargained for<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1561193300027228161\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\"\/>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin had handled returns in the Cowboys&#8217; preseason debut last week.  He returned two kickoffs for 47 combined yards (25 and 22 yards), returned a punt for 10 yards, and caught two passes for a combined 12 yards.  But he \u201cwasn&#8217;t really comfortable\u201d in that contest, \u201cso during this week of practice I got very comfortable,\u201d Turpin said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">it showed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin&#8217;s first touch came with 6:17 to play in the first quarter, when he caught Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins&#8217; kickoff at the Cowboys&#8217; 2-yard line.  Then Turpin was off.  Her ran straight up the middle of the field, trusting his speed and his blockers as he surged past a mass of defenders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cHe&#8217;s got daylight in front of him,\u201d said NFL Network&#8217;s broadcast after Cowboys tight end Sean McKeon neutralized the final likely threat to Turpin streaking down the right sideline.  Within 12 seconds of his catch, Turpin reached the end zone.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1561179175456735235\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">A grin spread across head coach Mike McCarthy&#8217;s face.  Teammates swarmed Turpin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But Turpin wasn&#8217;t done.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">With just over a minute left in the first half, the Chargers faced fourth-and-4 at their 32-yard line and opted to punt.  Turpin lined up to receive.  He caught this one at the opponent&#8217;s 14-yard line and immediately juked to leave Chargers rookie defensive back Deane Leonard sprawled on the ground.  Then his zigzag continued, Turpin&#8217;s poise in traffic belying the defenders in near proximity.  At least three Chargers were down before Turpin crossed the 50-yard line.  Punter JK Scott tracked Turpin admirably into Cowboys territory before the 5-7, 158-pound weapon&#8217;s speed edged him home.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">After his performance, Turpin paid tribute to former TCU teammate Jeff Gladney.  Gladney, the Vikings&#8217; 2020 first-round draft selection and later Cardinals player, died at 25 years old in a car accident in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cI just feel like my boy Jeff Gladney looking down on me, man,\u201d Turpin said.  \u201cIt was his favorite team, so I just feel like he&#8217;s smiling down on me on my second preseason game.  I&#8217;m just happy for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1561201945033019392\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin knew he faced an uphill battle when the Cowboys signed him July 28, his first NFL training camp opportunity arriving nearly four years after his last college game.  His on-field performance at TCU had been impactful: Turpin caught 145 passes for 1,748 yards and 13 touchdowns;  rushed for 318 yards and two touchdowns;  and still added six more scores in the return game.  But TCU dismissed him midway through the 2018 season after he was arrested for assault.  Turpin pleaded guilty in 2019 to assault causing bodily harm.  He received two years&#8217; deferred adjudication probation in 2019, according to The Dallas Morning News, and was ordered to complete a 27-week partner abuse intervention program.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe classes helped me,\u201d he said last month after signing with the Cowboys.  \u201cI&#8217;ve learned my accountability and consequences.  I just look forward, put that behind me and looking forward to becoming a greater man now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He reentered professional football last fall with the Fan Controlled Football league and then starred this spring in the nascent USFL.  Turpin&#8217;s 921 all-purpose yards, including a league-best 540 receiving yards, earned him MVP honors.  He also posted a league-best 71-yard punt return in the regular season and a 78-yard go-ahead punt-return touchdown in the playoffs.  The Cowboys were enthralled. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1552511100498825216\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWhen you watch the tape, the thing that jumps out is he&#8217;s dynamic with the ball in his hand,\u201d McCarthy said.  \u201cHe H&#8217;s a returner then his responsibility on offense will be secondary.  He has some Tony Pollard-type traits, I think from an offensive perspective.  So once again I think this is a really good opportunity and we&#8217;ve been talking about this for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin&#8217;s special-teams threat is clarifying at a fortuitous moment for the Cowboys, whose shuffled roster dictates a new return plan.  Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Cedrick Wilson split punt-return duties last year.  But Lamb&#8217;s elevation to top receiver now makes him too valuable to risk on returns, while Wilson signed with Miami in free agency.  Cowboys running back Tony Pollard led Dallas in kick returns last season, but his expected increased role both rushing and receiving will likely correlate with a dip in returns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin believed he was ready to return from his arrival at Cowboys camp.  He sought to prove he could contribute as a receiver as well.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_fo__bet-best\" aria-label=\"Scores and odds from Tipico\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-type=\"comment\"><!--@pre<iframe class=gnt_em_fo_if src=\"\/tangfrag\/sports\/gaming\/bet-best?prm-embedded&prm-teamid=16&prm-gnteamid=28&prm-league=NFL#fhp-assetid=7859339001\" loading=lazy sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-forms\" title=\"Scores and odds from Tipico\"><\/iframe>--><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cReturn man, that&#8217;s what I do,\u201d Turpin said.  \u201cI&#8217;m a specialty guy.  I&#8217;m here to prove to everybody I&#8217;m a true receiver.  Special teams is what I do, I can wake up and do that.  I&#8217;m here to prove to everybody that I&#8217;m a true receiver.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Turpin netted 9 yards on a jet sweep vs.  the Chargers but was pulled from the game after his second touchdown.  His tape was likely already sufficient for the Cowboys &#8216;impending roster decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cSpeed \u200b\u200bkills,\u201d Turpin said at a recent practice.  \u201cIt&#8217;s an advantage for me.  \u2026 Punt return, kickoff, whatever the Cowboys need me to do I&#8217;m here for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He reiterated Saturday night: \u201cJust a blessing to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Follow USA TODAY Sports&#8217; Jori Epstein on Twitter <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoriEpstein\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">@JoriEpstein<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/08\/16\/USAT\/e14a5c9a-1fa0-49e4-b66b-027411dc15c0-USP_NFL__Pro_Bowl-NFC_at_AFC.jpg?crop=8639,4860,x0,y288&amp;width=660&amp;height=372&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/08\/16\/USAT\/e14a5c9a-1fa0-49e4-b66b-027411dc15c0-USP_NFL__Pro_Bowl-NFC_at_AFC.jpg?crop=8639,4860,x0,y288&amp;width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KaVontae Turpin had shown this during an electric college career at TCU three-plus years ago. He&#8217;d flashed his rare ability again this spring in the USFL during his league-MVP campaign. And Saturday night, with a 98-yard kick return touchdown followed by an 86-yard punt return touchdown, Turpin proved it again: He is a legitimate threat &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kavontae-turpin-electrifies-dallas-cowboys-with-two-return-touchdowns\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">KaVontae Turpin electrifies Dallas Cowboys with two return touchdowns<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55566,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kavontae-turpin-getting-work-with-first-team-offense\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":0},"title":"KaVontae Turpin getting work with first-team offense","date":"August 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\r \r \r Getty Images KaVontae Turpin earned a roster spot Saturday night when he returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns against the Chargers. He also earned more opportunities on offense.Turpin is getting work with the Cowboys' first-team offense in practice tonight, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Dallas Cowboys v Denver Broncos","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/profootballtalk.nbcsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1415212184-e1661387972251.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28705,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dallas-cowboys-sign-kavontae-turpin-usfl-mvp-and-kick-returner-wr\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":1},"title":"Dallas Cowboys sign KaVontae Turpin, USFL MVP and kick returner\/WR","date":"July 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"OXNARD, Calif. \u2014 The Dallas Cowboys signed a \u201cdynamic\u201d player with pro football honors and off-field questions on Thursday.Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin won USFL MVP in June after the versatile weapon raced to 921 all-purpose yards, including a league-best 540 receiving yards.He did not receive an NFL opportunity in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52435,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/kavontae-turpin-has-made-a-fast-impression-on-the-cowboys\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":2},"title":"KaVontae Turpin has made a fast impression on the Cowboys","date":"August 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\r \r \r Getty Images If not for off-field concerns, KaVontae Turpin perhaps already would have done what he did in Saturday night's preseason game. He returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and a punt 86 yards for a touchdown against the Chargers, sealing his spot on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"NFL: AUG 20 Preseason - Cowboys at Chargers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/profootballtalk.nbcsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2022\/08\/GettyImages-1242625353-e1661122970642.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":51767,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/josh-allen-patrick-mahomes-dazzle-in-midseason-form\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":3},"title":"Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes dazzle in midseason form","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The last time we saw Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes on the same field, they left us with arguably the greatest playoff game ever played.On Saturday, they both gave us a tease of what's to come in 2022. While it's ill-advised to make too much of what happens on an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55590,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/tyron-smith-leaves-practice-will-have-mri-thurs\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":4},"title":"Tyron Smith Leaves Practice;  Will Have MRI Thurs.","date":"August 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Smith didn't return to practice but did walk past reporters in the locker room with no limp and without any knee brace or sleeve.Smith's injury have been well documented, considering he has missed at least three games each season since 2015. Most of his injuries have been back\/shoulder related, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48716,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/clarence-hills-top-5-notables-from-cowboys-chargers-practice\/","url_meta":{"origin":51968,"position":5},"title":"Clarence Hill&#8217;s Top 5 notables from Cowboys-Chargers practice","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"COSTA MESA, Calif. Don't look now but a Dallas Cowboys team that has been offensive-oriented as long as we can remember is one that is being led by the defense. It is the part of the team with the strongest individual units and the fewest concerns heading into the 2022\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/08\/21\/USAT\/44f932e0-890c-4c0a-8b65-7757669ad456-AP_Cowboys_Chargers_Football.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51968"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51968\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}