Turner signed with the Commanders' practice squad Wednesday.
Since being selected by Washington in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Turner has played in 22 regular-season games and accrued 13 catches (on 24 targets) for 143 yards over that span. He was unable to crack the Commanders' 53-man roster for the upcoming season, but Turner is a candidate to be elevated to the active roster should tight ends Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, John Bates or Colson Yankoff miss time.
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Cole Turner: Waived by Washington
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Turner was waived by the Commanders on Tuesday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
Turner was unable to crack a Washington tight end depth chart led by veteran Zach Ertz. The third-year pro caught 11 passes for 120 yards in 12 games for the Commanders in 2023.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Catches 11 passes in 12 games
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Turner caught 11 of 15 targets for 120 yards in 12 games during the 2023 season.
There was some spring/summer chatter about Turner potentially supplanting Logan Thomas as Washington's top tight end, but it never came to fruition even after the second-year pro caught seven passes over the first three weeks of the season. Turner caught just four balls the rest of the year and was even a healthy scratch at times, so he'll need to compete for a job in 2024 even if Thomas is released to help clear cap space.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Distant third on TE depth chart
Rotowire
Turner played seven of the Commanders' 55 snaps on offense and hauled in his lone target for a two-yard reception in Sunday's 45-15 loss to the Dolphins.
While the second-year player profiles as a strong pass catcher and has run routes on 60.3 percent of his offensive snaps this season, he's not seeing enough playing time behind fellow tight ends Logan Thomas and John Bates to make much of a splash in the box score. Through his 11 appearances this season, Turner has yet to find the end zone and has recorded more than one reception on just two occasions.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Will suit up Sunday
Rotowire
Turner is active for Sunday's Week 11 clash with the Giants.
Turner was a healthy scratch both Week 8 and Week 10 but will be available to face New York on Sunday. The tight end had four catches on seven targets for 35 yards Week 2 versus Buffalo but has compiled only four catches for 47 yards combined across the other seven contests during which he has been active. Turner's role will likely remain limited as long as top TE Logan Thomas is healthy.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Non-factor in loss
Rotowire
Turner failed to draw a single target in Sunday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Eagles.
After leading the Commanders in targets in Week 3, Turner's involvement in the offense plummeted against the Eagles on Sunday. The 23-year-old tight end failed to record a reception for the first time this season while playing on just six offensive snaps in the contest. Turner's drop in snap share in Week 4 was a result of Logan Thomas' return from a concussion, as Thomas reestablished himself as the No. 1 tight end. Operating in a backup role behind both Thomas and John Bates, Turner should remain off the fantasy radar in a Week 5 matchup with the Bears.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Catches two passes
Rotowire
Turner caught both of his targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 35-33 win over Denver.
Turner played only 14 percent of snaps Week 1 and didn't get much work before halftime Week 2, but he logged a 52 percent snap share in the second half after Logan Thomas entered concussion protocol. John Bates played 79 percent of snaps en route to 3-46-0 on five targets, but Turner should get most of the playing time in passing situations if Thomas isn't available Week 3 against Buffalo.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Four grabs against Browns
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Turner caught all four of his targets for 31 yards in Friday's preseason win over the Browns.
Logan Thomas (calf) was held out of the contest, so Turner lined up with the starters on offense and showed some intriguing chemistry with Sam Howell, catching three of his passes early in the second quarter on the first-team offense's lone scoring drive -- including a clutch conversion on fourth down. Turner made little impact as a rookie in 2022, but the Nevada product could be ready to take a step forward in new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's scheme, especially if Thomas once again has trouble staying healthy.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Making case for Year 2 role
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Turner "wowed" during training camp last year and is doing the same in practices this spring, Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
Zach Selby of the Commanders' official website also mentions Turner as one of the standouts from OTAs in May. The 2022 fifth-round pick caught only two passes in 10 games as a rookie last year -- both during a Week 6 contest where injuries forced him into an every-down role -- but it isn't out of the question that Turner could displace soon-to-be 32-year-old Logan Thomas as Washington's top TE this summer. Thomas suffered an Achilles tear in 2021 and averaged only 8.3 yards per catch and 5.3 yards per target in 14 games last season (39-323-1 on 61 targets).
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Finishes year with two catches
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Turner finished the 2022 season with two catches for 23 yards in 10 games.
The rookie fifth-round pick out of Nevada took 51 percent of Washington's offensive snaps Week 5 (his NFL debut) and 93 percent Week 6. Both of Turner's receptions came in the latter contest, and while he made eight appearances thereafter and saw four more targets, he didn't catch another pass once the Commanders got John Bates and then Logan Thomas back from injuries. Turner turns 23 in March and could be in the mix for the passing-down role next year, especially if Thomas is released this offseason (which would add up to $6.9 million in cap space for Washington, per OverTheCap).
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Healthy scratch Sunday
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Turner (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Vikings.
Turner was in concussion protocols earlier in the week, but he had gained clearance to play. However, with Logan Thomas' return last Sunday against the Colts, Turner finds himself on the outside looking in, on the team's positional depth chart.
Turner (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Vikings, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Turner has cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will see game action for the first time since suffering the concussion in Week 7 against the Packers. Washington has battled injuries at tight end, but with the team's top options at the position having regained health, Turner will likely be used primarily on special teams while playing sparingly, if at all, on offense.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Practices in full Thursday
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Turner (concussion) was listed as a full participant on the Commanders' injury report Thursday.
Turner returned to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday, marking his first activity since suffering a concussion against the Packers in Week 7. While he appears to be rapidly progressing toward a return, the rookie tight end will still need to officially clear the league protocol in order to suit up for Sunday's game against the Vikings. Turner will have one more practice to improve his status before this Week 9 contest.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Handles three-down role
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Turner caught both of his targets for 23 yards in a 12-7 win over the Bears on Thursday, playing 93 percent of snaps on offense with fellow tight ends Logan Thomas (calf) and John Bates (hamstring) both unavailable.
Thomas was on the inactive list for a second straight week, while Bates didn't log any playing time due to a hamstring injury suffered during pregame warmups. Turner thus found himself in a three-down role, after seeing 51 percent of snaps and three targets (zero catches) the week before in a timeshare with Bates. Turner, a rookie fifth-round pick, could have some deep-league appeal for Week 7 against the Packers if both Thomas and Bates are sidelined again. His prospects for fantasy production will be minimal if either of those two returns.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Inactive against Lions
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Turner (coach's decision) is inactive Week 2 against the Lions.
While Turner made it off the injury report this week, the rookie tight end will ultimately have to wait at least another week before making his NFL debut. Washington will still have three tight ends active, with the position group consisting of Logan Thomas, John Bates and Armani Rogers.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Full participant Wednesday
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Turner (hamstring) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice report, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
This is certainly an encouraging development development for the rookie, who coach Ron Rivera said Monday had "a chance" of playing in Week 2. Turner missed the season opener due to the hamstring issue after being limited at practice during the week, but he appears on track to make his NFL debut against the Lions on Sunday.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Week 2 status up in the air
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Head coach Ron Rivera said Turner (hamstring) has "a chance" to play next Sunday against the Lions, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Turner missed Sunday's game against the Jaguars as a result of the hamstring injury he picked up in early August. However, the 6-foot-6 tight end was a limited participant in each of the team's practice sessions last week, giving him a shot to play Week 2 against Detroit. Keep an eye on the Commanders' practice/injury reports throughout the upcoming days, as they should provide a better picture regarding Turner's availability for next Sunday's contest against the Lions.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Not ready for Week 1
Rotowire
Turner (hamstring) is inactive Sunday against the Jaguars.
Turner has been limited at practice all week and isn't quite ready for game action. In his absence, Armani Rogers is expected to operate as Washington's No. 3 tight end.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Listed as questionable
Rotowire
Turner (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's season opener against the Jaguars, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Turner was limited at practice all week and is listed as questionable for Week 1. Fellow tight end Logan Thomas (knee) is also questionable, so John Bates and Armani Rogers could be in store for major roles against Jacksonville.
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Commanders' Cole Turner: Remains limited
Rotowire
Turner (hamstring) was once again limited in practice Thursday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Turner sat out all of Washington's preseason contests due to the injury. However, his ability to remain a limited participant in practice leaves open the possibility of him making his NFL debut Sunday against the Jaguars. If he can do so, the rookie could have a sizable role, as Logan Thomas (knee) is also questionable for Week 1.
