Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin Delivers Bad News on Week 6
The Cowboys and coach Brian Schottenheimer deserve some credit here in 2025 for finally doing something that the team’s fans–and even the front office–have been calling for over the last few years. He’s figured out ways for dynamic kick returner KaVontae Turpin to contribute to the offense as a gadget weapon.
He played 62 offensive snaps as a rookie, 140 in Year 2 and 315 last season, but is on pace to shatter that mark this year, already on the field for 133 snaps–despite missing Week 5 with a foot injury. Turpin has given the Cowboys 11 catches (on 13 targets) for 159 yards as well as 23 yards on six carries out of the backfield.
Alas, the pesky foot injury meant he did not play against the Jets. And it is going to keep him out again in Week 6 against the Panthers–at least, according to Turpin.
KaVontae Turpin Says He’s Still ‘Day to Day’
On the Cowboys team website, it was noted that it will be “at least another week” before Turpin returns.
The site added: “The All-Pro returner and dynamic wide receiver missed the Week 5 contest against the Panthers with a foot injury, and he’s not yet up to full speed as of Wednesday, labeling himself as ‘day to day’ and stating the likelihood is he’ll miss this weekend’s matchup with an eye on returning against the Commanders in Week 6.”
And Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News wrote on Twitter/X: “Asked #Cowboys WR/KR KaVontae Turpin if a return on Sunday was a possibility. He was honest. He said probably not, but he’s targeting a return for the home game next Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Turpin suffered a foot sprain against GB.”
Turpin has a PFF grade of 75.6, which is 19th out of 125 receivers in the NFL this season.
Cowboys Have 10 Players Limited by Injury in Practice
While the Cowboys have been optimistic about getting players back from their long list of walking wounded heading into Week 6, not everyone figures to be healthy. There were 10 players, including six starters, who were not a full go in practice on Wednesday.
There was, for sure, a positive sign for Turpin: he was no longer in a walking boot for the foot on Wednesday.
“There’s guys moving around better,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “I think as the week goes, there’s a few guys that you might be able to get back. But it’s hit and miss and today is a day you’re probably see more guys on the grass and being on the grass doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re cleared to play.”
New Bears Trade Target Emerges After Report About RB’s Availability
The Chicago Bears might have a new trade target to consider pursuing after the latest NFL insider report about the availability of a productive running back.
According to Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, the Washington Commanders have been “shopping” starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. to “teams around the NFL” on the market, an unexpected development given his place atop their depth chart.
“#Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. has been highly productive through his first three seasons — rushing for 2,300+ yards and scoring 20 TDs, all while coming back from being shot before his rookie year,” Schultz wrote Sunday night on X. “Washington likes its RB depth, but Robinson is available for the right price.”
Whether the “right price” is reasonable for the Bears is unclear, but it is worth a phone call to the Commanders to find out, if they think Robinson can be their missing piece.
Brian Robinson Jr. Would Bring Pop to Bears Offense
In terms of fit, Robinson would be an enticing addition for the Bears’ 2025 backfield.
At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, Robinson is a freight train who thrives in short-yardage and goal-line situations and seems happier running over his opponents than around them. He has rushed for 2,329 yards and 15 touchdowns on 570 carries over his first three seasons with the Commanders, achieving career-highs in rushing yards (799) and touchdowns (eight) during the 2024 season while splitting duties with Austin Ekeler.
In Chicago, Robinson would also be splitting carries, but he would be taking a smaller slice of the pie than Washington gave him in 2024. The Bears would likely deploy him as their power-rushing complement to Swift, bringing him in to change the pace similar to how head coach Ben Johnson used Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit. His experience carrying a heavy workload for the Commanders also adds some security.
The Commanders’ asking price is the big question. Robinson’s experience could pique the interest of several teams on the trade market, but he is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Teams won’t fork over a big return for a potential one-year rental, even if they like Robinson’s chances of earning a contract extension before then.
The Bears would need to feel good about Robinson’s potential contributions for their offense first, but they could reasonably justify giving up a fifth-round pick to add him to their offense — if they believe they need more than what their roster currently offers.
Will Bears Add to Backfield Before Start of Season?
The Bears should want to get a pulse on Robinson’s situation with the Commanders if Schultz is correct about the team shopping him in trades. He is a talented young player at one of the weakest positions on their roster and could potentially provide an option for upgrading the unit before the start of their 2025 regular season on September 8.
Are the Bears still looking to upgrade at running back, though?
The Bears are three weeks away from their first game of the season and still have about the same backfield personnel group that they fielded in 2024. Swift remains the starter after rushing for 959 yards and six touchdowns (3.8 yards per carry) last season, while Roschon Johnson, Ian Wheeler, Travis Homer and Kyle Monangai — a seventh-round rookie draft pick — are all vying for roles behind him on the team’s 53-man roster.
Johnson, Monangai and Homer are the strongest candidates to make the rotation with roughly a week until the roster cutdown, but Wheeler seemingly improved his case in Sunday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, rushing for a team-high 80 yards and two touchdowns. Newcomer Brittain Brown (73 yards, 1 TD) also stood out.
When the competition is over, though, the Bears must decide if what the winners give them behind Swift is enough to power their offense through the season. And if they find that the answer is no, it may just turn them toward Robinson or another available back.
