Dallas can use KaVontae Turpin again. That possibility, rather than any promise of a starring offensive role, is the important part of Friday’s news.
The Cowboys cleared Turpin from the injury report at 4:13 p.m. CST Friday, ending a three-game absence before Sunday’s home game against San Francisco. He has not played since the opening kickoff against Green Bay on Oct. 18.
His return arrives with Tyler Goodson unavailable, removing the player who had been handling Dallas’ returns and leaving the Cowboys to sort through a different set of special-teams choices.
The TCU alumnus built his college career with the Horned Frogs before earning three Pro Bowl selections as an NFL return specialist during four years with Dallas. That record gives his clearance significance beyond the receiver room.
A team sorting through several vacancies has a specialist available again for a job he has performed at a high level, whether or not he receives a large offensive workload.
Turpin’s value is tied to what he can do when a kick or punt arrives in front of him. The Cowboys do not need to manufacture a large receiving workload to benefit from his availability. Treating the news as though it automatically solves an offensive problem would miss his more specific contribution.
His return work can alter field position, give Dallas a player with acceleration in space and force the opponent to account for a possibility that was absent during the past three games.
Goodson’s absence makes that possibility more relevant. In Dallas’ 27-23 victory at Indianapolis on Nov. 8, Goodson carried 12 times for 77 yards. His rushing performance was part of the offense’s answer that afternoon; his return duties were another job entirely.
Now Dallas must account for his absence while also deciding how to organize the backfield. Israel Abanikanda was identified Friday as the likely practice-squad call-up and expected backup to Javonte Williams, while fullback Hunter Luepke was also expected to take part in running-back work. Abanikanda’s elevation was still prospective, and no return assignment had been announced for either player.
That leaves Turpin as a way to separate two questions that could otherwise become tangled. Dallas needs a backup plan behind Williams, but it does not have to ask the same replacement to cover every vacant responsibility. Turpin can be considered for special teams without requiring Dallas to turn him into a larger offensive piece.
Conversely, the Cowboys can keep his return work limited if that is the preferred arrangement. Being cleared opens the option; it does not announce how often he will use it.
