Browns defend KaVontae Turpin, but allow punt return touchdown

The game seemed to be over when the Browns trailed 20-3 at halftime, but the real nail in the coffin came when Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin capped the first drive of the second half with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. Turpin’s best play gave Dallas a 27-3 lead with 12:59 left in the third quarter.

“We gave him a little too much space, and he’s a great returner. He took advantage of that,” said Browns safety D’Anthony Bell, a member of the Cleveland punt covering unit.

Although Turpin had never scored a punt return touchdown in the NFL, Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone told his players to be extra cautious around Turpin as they prepared for Week 1. Turpin made the 2022 Pro Bowl and NFL Players Association All-Pro teams.

“He’s an electrifying returner,” said Browns quarterback Pierre Strong Jr., who plays for Cleveland.

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After Corey Bojorquez cleared the ball from the Cleveland goal line, Turpin caught the ball on the Dallas 40-yard line, then ran between Bell and linebacker Devin Bush on the Brownie the Elf logo near midfield. A block on Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate moments later allowed Turpin to sprint down the Cowboys sideline toward the end zone.

“I kept my advantage on my side,” said Browns linebacker and special teams ace Mike Ford Jr. “He kind of glanced at me, went the other way. I tried to catch up. He just made a good cut and weaved well through traffic.”

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Bell, Strong and Ford all expressed confidence that the Browns will continue to excel on special teams this season despite a disappointing start.

“It’s like, ‘Hey, one game doesn’t define us, let’s just keep going, let’s keep fighting,’” Bell said. “It’s Week 1. We still have time. We’re still going to do what we need to do. We’re going to fine-tune this, fix this and get back to it.”

It’s one of many areas the Browns need to fix before Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.