The Dallas Cowboys are off to a 1-1 start in 2025, and they are still working out the kinks on offense as the season takes shape.
But after Sunday’s overtime thriller against the New York Giants, the excitement of a hard-fought win was dampened by a scary moment involving one of their most electric players: wide receiver and return specialist KaVontae Turpin.
KaVontae Turpin Injury: Will He Be Ready for Week 3?
Turpin went down late in the game with what looked like a serious neck injury and was later spotted in the locker room wearing a neck brace. For fans and teammates, the sight was jarring. The 29-year-old has become one of the Cowboys’ most exciting weapons, and the thought of losing him for any stretch of time hit hard.
Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin (neck) was once again back at practice today.
He was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday is trending toward playing in Chicago on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/WAIzdPajcW
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 18, 2025
Since then, the news has been considerably more encouraging. Team updates state that Turpin’s neck tests came back negative and that the injury is not considered to be significant. Despite being limited during Wednesday’s practice, head coach Brian Schottenheimer gave hope that Turpin will play this weekend in Chicago.
“It sounds like most of the test have come back clear,” Schottenheimer said. “Hopefully we’ll have a chance to have him this week.”
Even Turpin himself is confident, telling reporters he “feels good” despite what the team described as a trapezius issue. That’s a big relief for the Cowboys, because Turpin was already carving out a bigger role in Schottenheimer’s offense.
Turpin was not on the injury report on Friday and is expected to play in Week 3 against the Bears.
Before his exit, Turpin was electric in the win over New York. He caught four passes for 47 yards, including a touchdown, and piled up another 100 yards in kick returns. His speed and shiftiness didn’t just show up on the stat sheet; they gave the Cowboys energy at key moments in a game that could have gone either way.
Expectation Breakout for Turpin in 2025, Hopefully Ready for Sunday
This season was already shaping up to be a breakout year for Turpin. Schottenheimer has made him more than just a return ace, lining him up at receiver and even sprinkling in snaps at running back.
With CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens commanding defensive attention, Turpin’s versatility gives Dallas a dangerous third option, and one who could easily swing a game with a single play.
If he stays healthy, Turpin has the tools to hit career highs, potentially scoring eight or more touchdowns this year while thriving under the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
For now, the Cowboys will monitor his progress throughout the week. But with encouraging test results and Turpin trending upward, it looks like Dallas could have its spark plug ready for a tough road battle against the Bears at Soldier Field.
