KaVontae Turpin Injury Will Have Wide-Ranging Impact on Cowboys

Absolutely nothing went right for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. Aside from losing an important game against a top opponent, Dallas also suffered major injury losses, with wide receiver and punt returner KaVontae Turpin chief among them.

Turpin got rolled up on by San Francisco -- several yards out of bounds, I might add -- during their matchup close to halftime and was ultimately ruled out due to an ankle injury.

Given how dangerous (or dirty) of a play it was, there were hopes Turpin had avoided anything serious. However, the latest on the former All-Pro is he suffered a high-ankle sprain, which would affect Dallas in more ways than one.

A Major Special Teams Loss

First and foremost, Turpin showed he's one of the league's best return men with his electric performance in 2022. He provided Dallas a serious spark on special teams that it was lacking, racking up 837 total return yards between punts and kickoffs.

That kind of big-play ability from an unexpected source has the potential to change games. It can negate big punts from the opponents and set up the offense in better field position, possibly leading to points that would've been more difficult to come by.

Having a great return man isn't just about picking up extra yards, though. The worst special teams units in the league are often ones where they're relying on players with butter-like hands to field returns. These can lead to muffs, or even turnovers, as their nerves get the best of them.

We saw that play out right away on Sunday with Turpin on the bench. Both Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn got called to help out in the return game, and both struggled at times to field the ball cleanly. Those kinds of mistakes could decide a win or loss if they continue.

Putting RB Depth in Jeopardy

Speaking of Dowdle and Vaughn, one of them will likely need to step up to fill Turpin's shoes. Both are capable as playmakers, but that also makes Dallas' backfield more vulnerable. After all, punt and kickoff returns are some of the most dangerous plays in football.

It only takes one bad play -- like what happened with Turpin -- to knock either out of commission for an extended time. Then we'd be talking about the offense getting significantly worse by losing one of its main backup RBs, instead of just the special teams unit being downgraded.

Utilizing them at either return spot is likely a necessary evil. They need someone who can actually provide something there, and they're ideal choices as players who aren't big pieces of the gameplan right now.

However, they'd also be the first in line for a heightened role in Tony Pollard goes down. Dallas will likely have to run the risk given the upside, but it could certainly backfire.

A Rising Offensive Playmaker

Last of all, Turpin has started to grow his game beyond the return element this season. He recorded his first career NFL touchdown in Week 1 on a handoff out of the backfield as the Cowboys experimented with ways to get the ball in his hands more.

Turpin then showed off his wheels in Week 4 as a running back, taking a carry 46 yards against the New England Patriots and hitting some insane top-end speed.

He kept up his offensive contributions in Week 6, as the wide receiver recorded the first touchdown catch of his career from 26 yards out. Turpin's elite quickness helped him get past his man with ease, allowing him to make a huge play on a crucial third down to help the team get right back in it.

While it's only been a play here or there, you can still argue Turpin's made a bigger impact than other high-profiles names on this unit. After all, his 2 total TDs in 2023 are tied with Pollard for the most on the Cowboys. Even his 1 receiving TD is the same amount CeeDee Lamb has this year, while the likes of Michael Gallup, Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert are at zero after five weeks.

It's painfully clear this offense needs more players who can make something happen, instead of less. While he's not primarily an offensive guy, Turpin's injury hurts this unit, too. That isn't something fans expected at the start of the year, but it speaks to what he's achieved in his limited opportunities thus far.

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