Didn't just fall off the Turpin truck
Typically, these opponent previews don't highlight one particular special teams ace. But most teams don't have a KaVontae Turpin. The wide receiver is also the Cowboy's kick and punt returner. He entered Monday Night Football as the leading kickoff returner in total yardage (762 yards, just ahead of Raheem Blackshear) and average per return at 36.3 yards per (minimum 10 returns). Turpin is also seventh in average per punt return at 11.8 yards.
Some teams, such as the Bengals on Monday night, elect not to kick towards Turpin. He did return one punt for 20 yards, but all six kickoffs were touchbacks.
Turpin turned in one of the most electric plays of the NFL season thus far, with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Washington. And in Week 11 against the Texans, Turpin reached a max speed of 22.36 miles per hour, according to Next Gen Stats, the fastest speed by a ball carrier this season and the fastest since Raheem Mostert reached 23.09 MPH in Week 2, 2020.
Since entering the league in 2022, Turpin has reached at least 20 miles per hour 17 times as a ball carrier (pre Monday Night Football), the 2nd-most such touches in that span.
The Cowboys also have Juanyeh Thomas, a safety, who has returned seven kickoffs for 187 yards (26.7 per return), including one for a touchdown on an onside kick.
During Monday Night Football, the Dallas special teams unit blocked a punt in the game's final minutes but also touched the ball without recovering, giving the Bengals the ball back and turning it into the go-ahead touchdown.