Dallas Turner recorded 10 sacks for Alabama last season. After his first game for the Minnesota Vikings, the outside linebacker has one in his NFL career.
In the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday in their season-opening game, Turner took down quarterback Daniel Jones for a 4-yard loss on a first-and-10 snap from the New York 41-yard line with 21 seconds left in the first quarter.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to get that first one out of the way,” Turner said during an appearance on the NFL team’s Vikings Entertainment Network. “… I’ve probably watched it a good amount of times. I’ve seen it a lot on social media with all my fan base and support system back home going crazy and stuff like that.”
Turner had expected to celebrate his first NFL sack with Khyree Jackson. They were Crimson Tide teammatesin the 2021 and 2022 seasons. After Jackson transferred to Oregon for the 2023 campaign, they were set to be teammates again in 2024. Minnesota chose Turner in the first round and Jackson in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in April.
But the 24-year-old cornerback died in a traffic accident on July 6.
“I know he’s smiling right now,” Turner said about his first sack and Jackson.
Turner has dedicated his rookie season to his late teammate.
“I have his name plate above my locker,” Turner said. “Everywhere I go, I think about him and stuff like that. Like every day I wake up thinking about the situation. From my pre-game warmups, I wear the little shirt that dedicates to him, his journey.”
Turner made three tackles in his first NFL game and drew praise from Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores after Minnesota limited the Giants to two field goals.
“I thought he played very well,” Flores said. “I thought a lot of guys played well, but for a rookie in their first game, there’s certainly some jitters. I imagine for everybody there’s some jitters, myself included, you know, Week 1. But it certainly wasn’t too big for him.
“And I think he’s getting better. He’s getting a better feel for running games — the things how he can attack an offensive lineman, what to do if they chip him or thump him, how to set a tackle up and at least draw him a little bit if he’s dropping. There’s certain things that I think he’s starting to get a better feel for, and we’ll just continue to hope he continues to grow and develop.”
Turner played 36 of Minnesota’s 71 defensive snaps on Sunday, when the Vikings started Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard at the outside-linebacker spots. Turner also got on the field for 12 special-teams plays.
“The role that they have me in right now is definitely a good role, for sure,” Turner said. “Any way that I can impact the team in a positive way. Primarily on third down, the pass rush, so I get to go out there and go to hunt the quarterback.”
The Vikings open their home schedule against the San Francisco 49ers at noon CDT Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“I think it’s going to be special,” Turner said. “I know the fans are going to pack that thing up, for sure. But, honestly, just the energy in the building, just being a part of a new home, a new system, a new culture, so really just that, just embracing it.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
