The Dallas Cowboys lost KaVontae Turpin on the very first play of Sunday night’s game at Green Bay. The All-Pro returner was hurt on the opening kickoff, was escorted off with injured ribs and was declared out for the rest of the night before the first quarter was over.
It is a blow to the one phase where Dallas has had a clear edge over most opponents. Turpin led the league in kickoff return yards in 2024, the season that earned him All-Pro honours, and he has been to two Pro Bowls. By the end of the first quarter he was back on the Dallas sideline, out of uniform.
Todd Archer reported the injury first as questionable, then as a ruling that Turpin would not return.
KaVontae Turpin has been ruled out with a rib injury.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 19, 2026
Who replaced him, and the next injury
Dallas had its contingency set before kickoff: Caleb Downs took over on punt returns and running back Tyler Goodson on kickoffs, according to Nick Harris.
The second injury came on what looked like the Cowboys’ best moment of the half. Linebacker Dee Winters intercepted Jordan Love late in the first quarter and ran the ball into the end zone, but a review ruled that Matthew Golden had touched him while he was on the ground, so the score came off and Dallas started at the Green Bay 42. Winters had hurt his ankle and was listed as questionable to return while trainers wrapped it on the sideline. Justin Barron and Shemar James lined up at linebacker on the next series.
Cowboys LB Dee Winters (ankle) is questionable to return. He's getting it wrapped at the moment on the sideline.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 19, 2026
Green Bay running back MarShawn Lloyd was also hurt on the Winters play, trying to make the tackle.
Who was already missing
The Cowboys came to Lambeau without seven players. Cornerback Cobie Durant and tackle Drew Shelton, both nursing hamstrings, had been ruled out on Friday after missing practice. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, questionable with a hamstring of his own, was also inactive, along with outside linebacker James Houston, safety Alijah Clark, running back Emari Demercado and receiver Camden Brown.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was cleared to play through his ankle injury, and CeeDee Lamb, who had a thigh issue during the week but finished with full practices, played. Lamb slipped on a slant route in the second quarter, and Brandon Cisse intercepted Dak Prescott on the play; Lamb changed his cleats on the sideline afterwards.
The injuries piled up on a night that went badly in every other way: Green Bay led 17-0 at halftime. Dallas went into the game 2-3.
What comes next
The Cowboys will give updates on Turpin and Winters after the game and when the week’s practice reports begin. Dallas plays next at the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, October 26, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. Follow the night on the Game Center and every designation on the injury page.
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