FRISCO — Cowboys wide receiver and kick returner KaVontae Turpin was seen wearing a neck brace on Sunday after leaving the team’s 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants.
A week later, Turpin plans to be full-go on the road against the Chicago Bears, despite his trapezius injury.
“That’s what me and [head coach Brian Schottenheimer] talked about, that’s what the trainers are talking about,” Turpin said. “At this point, I’m playing. We’ll see how it goes.”
Turpin was a full participant in practice on Thursday. The Cowboys didn’t go full pads after having a walkthrough on Wednesday, but they did don helmets. Corner Trevon Diggs (illness) and left tackle Tyler Guyton were also full participants. Corner DaRon Bland (foot) was the only player on the Cowboys’ active roster who didn’t practice.
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Turpin’s return is good news for the Cowboys’ special teams unit and their offense.
Turpin had four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Giants. The Cowboys see him as a threat that can benefit from the attention paid to Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Lamb said it’s on the Cowboys’ wide receivers to win when they’re in one-on-one coverage. The team has that expectation for Turpin, who’s developed into their third receiving option.
“We want to be multiple and he’s a guy that gives you that,” Schottenheimer said last week about Turpin. “He’s playing more receiver right now, and the reason for that is he is truly a weapon and his speed is different. He has developed. He’s earned that. He’s earned the ability to play more receiver. Of course, any time you want to get him the ball, teams are smart, they don’t want to kick to him.”
Turpin’s best attribute is his speed. He was questioned on Thursday about whether the trapezius injury could impact him in that regard. He said he isn’t dealing with any pain that could limit him. He’s just curious about how he’ll his injured trapezius will react to contact. He equated the injury to a stinger.
Regardless, he doesn’t plan for it to slow him down.
“I’m going to go out there and play the way I play,” Turpin said. “Whatever happens, happens. They’ll have to take my whole shoulder out of my socket for me not to play. I’m just going to go out there and try to be me.”
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