All the rookie talk has been about Puka Nacua this season, and rightfully so, but Kobie Turner is quietly having an outstanding first season in the NFL, too. The third-round pick came into Week 17 with 6.5 sacks, which was a half-sack behind Byron Young for the rookie lead.
Turner added 2.5 more sacks on Sunday against the Giants, giving him nine total on the year. That tied the NFL record for the most sacks by a rookie defensive tackle, matching Aaron Donald’s nine sacks in 2014.
The good news for Turner is he has one more week left in the season. therefore, if he records even just a half-sack against the 49ers in Week 18, Turner will set the record for the most sacks by a rookie in a single season.
Turner had already ranked second in NFL history with 6.5 sacks, edging out Chris Jones and DeForest Buckner among rookie defensive tackles, but now he has Donald in his sights. Any record that’s held by Donald is an impressive one, which shows how dominant Turner has been in his rookie season this year.
Turner was somewhat overlooked as a third-round pick but “The Conductor” has exceeded all expectations and been a force on the interior.