Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin questionable to return to 49ers game with ankle injury

When he’s healthy and on the field, Cowboys wide receiver/kick returner KaVontae Turpin has showcased that he’s one of the more electrifying players in the league. He even hauled in a beautifully lofted 26-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Unfortunately for Cowboy fans, Turpin injured his ankle on Sunday night and according to Jon Machota, he was questionable to return to the game.

At the beginning of the second half, Sunday Night Football’s Melissa Stark let everyone know that Turpin had officially been ruled out for the rest of the game. He’s a pretty big loss as Turpin is not only an electrifying kick returner, but a field stretcher as a wideout.

Not much could go right for Dallas on Sunday Night Football, as they were demolished by the 49ers to the tune of a 42-10 beatdown.

The Cowboys signed Turpin on July 28, 2022. The addition, as the Dallas Morning News’ Mike Gehlken pointed out, gave the Cowboys the last two USFL MVP signings in Turpin, who won in 2022, and former running back Herschel Walker (1985).

The USFL, created in 1983, folded after just three seasons but returned under new leadership this spring. KaVontae Turpin led the league in receiving yards this spring with 540 for the New Jersey Generals. Altogether with his kick-returning duties, he posted 921 all-purpose yards on his way to winning the league’s MVP award for the 2022 season.

Herschel Walker left the USFL and played three seasons in his first stint with the Cowboys. He returned in 1996 for a single season before retiring as a two-time second-team All-Pro.

The Monroe, Louisiana native played for TCU under Gary Patterson from 2015-2018. He returned to the state of Texas for his chance with the Cowboys. Turpin showed off his breakaway potential in Fort Worth, recording a punt return touchdown in each of his four seasons on campus. He also had one kick return touchdown a piece during his junior and senior years.

He finished his prolific career with the Horned Frogs with 71 kick returns for 1,985 yards and two touchdowns. As a punt returner, he had 52 returns for 741 yards and four touchdowns. Turpin earned first team All-Big 12 honors in 2017 for TCU. He certainly finished his time there as one of the most prolific kick returners in school history.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle and Chandler Vessels also contributed to this article.