The Dallas Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin recorded the fastest speed of anyone in an NFL game this season with a touchdown catch and run against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Turpin, who doubles as the Cowboys’ return specialist, made the play in the 2nd quarter of the game, giving the Cowboys a much-needed boost after surrendering two touchdowns to open the game.

After beating his coverage, Turpin grabbed hold of a short pass from the Cowboys’ Cooper Rush and then let his speed do the talking from there. Turpin reached a top speed of 22.36 miles per hour, which according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats is the fastest any player has run during an NFL game this season.

Before tonight, the fastest ball carrier in the league this season was Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas reached 22.15 miles per hour in Week 5 on an 85-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence.

Turpin’s top speed eclipsed the record-holder from the 2023 irregular season, set by DK Metcalf. On that play, Metcalf reached 22.23 miles per hour on a 73-yard touchdown grab in Week 13.

Turpin’s top speed is also the fastest speed reached by any member of the Dallas Cowboys since the NFL started keeping track of the statistic via its Next Gen Stats platform, which began in 2016. It is also the fastest speed of any ball carrier in the league since 2020, according to NGS.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) returns a punt during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Turpin Reached the fastest top speed of anyone in the league since 2020. ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Raheem Mostert is the current record holder for top speed reached in an NFL game. The then-San Francisco 49ers running back reached the mark in 2020, hitting 23.09 miles per hour on an 80-yard rushing touchdown in Week 2 of that season.

Turpin joined the Cowboys in 2022 after a journeyman career in the football minor leagues. The TCU grad had stints with the Frisco Fighters (Indoor Football League), FCF Glacier Boyz (Fan-Controlled Football), Panthers Wroclaw (European League Football), and the New Jersey Generals (USFL) before earning a move to the Cowboys.