FRISCO, Texas – Cowboys wide receiver and All-Pro kick returner KaVontae Turpin could miss Sunday's game against the Jets with a foot injury suffered in Dallas' Week 4 tie against the Green Bay Packers.
During Wednesday's media viewing period in practice, Turpin was not present. As it stands, the Cowboys do not believe Turpin's injury will land him on injured reserve, which would sideline him for four games.
Turpin was coming off the best performance on kickoff returns this season, with six returns for 175 yards, averaging out at 29.2 yards per return. His final kickoff return, a 45-yarder to set Dallas up at their own 46-yard line, helped the Cowboys be in position to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Over the offseason, the Cowboys signed Turpin to a three-year, $18 million extension, showing their confidence in Turpin's ability to help contrubite more in Brian Schottenheimer's offense as a receiver in addition to his role on special teams.
Through four games in 2025, Turpin is already a quarter of the way to his receiving total of 420 yards last year with 159 yards on 13 receptions, and added a touchdown in the Cowboys' Week 2 game against the Giants.
This injury is the second that Turpin has suffered this year, after he sustained a neck injury in Week 2 against the Giants. After causing him to miss the finish to that game, Turpin was able to return the following week against the Bears.
Moving forward for the next few weeks, the Cowboys will have to figure out who they want to handle both their punt and kickoff returns. So far this season, Jalen Tolbert and Miles Sanders have been the only other two players to do so.
One option to consider is rookie fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue, who was lined up as a kick returner at times during his three years at Texas, but only returned three kicks in 2023 for a total of 80 yards.
There'll also be a void to fill at receiver, as Turpin is likely to miss time and things are still in the air as to when CeeDee Lamb can return from his high ankle sprain. Lamb and Turpin are third and fourth in receiving for the Cowboys this season, with Tolbert behind them in fifth place.
The good news is help could be on the way at the receiver position soon, with Jonathan Mingo serving as a potential candidate to have his 21-day return to play window opened off injured reserve after a knee injury in the preseason. Ryan Flournoy was also more active in the receiving game the last two weeks, and could see an uptick in reps as well.
