Eagles’ Paul Turner returns punt for 71-yard touchdown (video)

Philadelphia Eagles rookie Paul Turner added to his case for a spot on the squad with a 71-yard touchdown return in Thursday’s NFL preseason game.

If you want a roster spot in the NFL, the preseason is certainly the time to impress. Rookie receiver Paul Turner is doing just that. He continued to add to his audition for a role on Thursday night. In the Philadelphia Eagles‘ preseason game against the New York Jets, Turner was on the receiving end of a punt that he took all the way to the endzone.

A video posted to the NFL Twitter profile page showcases Turner’s highlight as he turns on the speed against the Jets. Th end result is a sweet touchdown return for the Eagles player.

In the highlight clip, Turner catches the ball right around his team’s 29-yard line. He eludes a defender’s tackle attempt and takes off. He turns on the jets and burns the Jets defenders for 71 yards and the score.

Turner’s score helped give his team a 7-6 lead late in the second quarter of the Week 4 game. The rookie wide receiver out of Louisiana has certainly made a name for himself these past four weeks of preseason.

Tonight’s touchdown was Turner’s first of the preseason. He’s tallied nearly 150 yards in receiving through the four games so far and the first three games were wins for the team.

He leads all receivers with 15 catches. As of this report, Turner was also leading all Eagles receivers tonight with five receptions for 53 yards. Toss in that touchdown return and he seems pretty much guaranteed of that roster spot this NFL season.

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The Eagles will play a Week 1 game at home against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 11 and it won’t be surprising at all if Paul Turner is among the players out on the field for that game.