- Turpin is entering a contract year in 2024, and now with even more value placed on kick returners across the NFL, he has the opportunity to prove just how impactful he can be. In just a his first few years in the NFL, Turpin has already shown that he has the ability to return kicks to the house. In the 2022 preseason game against the Chargers, he returned not one, but two kicks for a touchdown – one a kickoff return for 98 yards and the other a punt return for 86 yards. By the end of the 2022 season, Turpin earned himself a trip to the Pro Bowl, averaging 24.2 yards on kick returns.
In the 2023 season, Turpin wasn’t afforded many opportunities to return kicks, largely because of the 2023 kickoff rules that favored more touchbacks. He was constrained by the fact that he only had 10 opportunities all season to return a kick. Even still, he averaged 29.2 yards per return. The one stand out was a house call punt return that was unfortunately called back due to penalty against the Rams in Week 8.
These new kickoff changes will undoubtedly bring more opportunities for returners to make huge plays in 2024, having a greater affect on the games as a whole. Turpin will have the ability to set the tone early in games giving Dak & co. excellent field position from the jump. There will also be more opportunities to swing momentum back in the Cowboys’ favor after opponents’ scoring plays. With all of the new excitement that may come with these new changes, fans should not want to miss a second of it. Beer should already be in hand and seats in a comfortable spot in front of the TV screen, ready to watch Turpin break a big one.
