The Dallas Cowboys have zero margin for error in their final four games. To usurp the Eagles in the NFC East, they must win out and hope that Philadelphia loses two more games.
You can guarantee that Dak Prescott and the offense will show up. The defense is a much different story, which makes executing on special teams absolutely imperative. Unfortunately, not only has the Cowboys' return coverage been dreadful, but KaVontae Turpin has become a massive problem.
Turpin's struggles on kickoff returns are one thing, but he has committed invalid fair catch signals in consecutive weeks. While it didn't cost Dallas against the Chiefs, it loomed large in the loss to the Lions. Appearing on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Jerry Jones didn't sugarcoat Turpin's mental lapses.
"He's got to quit doing that," Jones said of Turpin.
Cowboys need KaVontae Turpin to get his act together on punt returns
This wouldn't be a conversation if Turpin's miscue versus the Chiefs was a one-off. While a rarity and one of the more inexcusable penalties in the sport, the Cowboys won the game, and it obviously wasn't a recurring issue.
That it happened twice in a span of 12 days is grounds to take Turpin off of punt returns. There seemingly haven't been any reports to suggest Dallas is considering making a change, but nobody would bat an eyelash if someone else fielded punts against the Vikings.
According to Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan, the entire NFL was penalized for a fair catch infraction once in the 2,265 days before Turpin did it twice in a span of 12 days.
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Jones' comment suggests that Turpin will keep his job, even if he'll be on a short leash. But why not just make the change? It's not like Turpin is making any difference as a returner.
The 29-year-old has averaged just 5.5 yards per punt return this season. That is almost a full five yards lower from his 10.4 mark last season when he was a first-team All-Pro return specialist. It'd be one thing if he were ripping off eight yards on every return. At this point, why not just put someone back there who won't hurt the offense's field position?
It doesn't sound like it will happen this week, but that it's reached Jerry Jones proves Turpin is walking a fine line.