NFL CAREER – With the 28th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Saints added to the line with this gifted pass rusher. In 2022, Turner appeared in eight games and posted 16 tackles (11 solo), 2.0 sacks and five stops for loss, also contributing on special teams. The University of Houston standout missed 15 contests in 2023 before returning in the season finale and recovering a fumble in a win over Atlanta. He looks to continue to develop as part of the defensive front in the 2024 season.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Activated from Injured Reserve, 1/5/24; Placed on Injured Reserve (toe), 9/13/23; Placed on Injured Reserve (shoulder), 11/11/21; Signed to a four-year contract, 6/8/21; Selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2023 – Appeared in two games and finished with one tackle, two quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. After injuring his toe in the season-opening win over Tennessee, he was placed on Injured Reserve for 16 weeks before being activated prior to the season finale vs Atlanta…Added a tackle in win vs. Titans, Sept. 10…Returned from Injured Reserve and recorded the first fumble recovery of his career vs Atlanta, 1/7/24. 2022 – Played in eight games and finished with 16 tackles (11 solo), two sacks and five stops for loss, also contributing on special teams with one blocked field goal…At Atlanta, Sept. 11, played on defense and special teams and blocked a late fourth quarter field goal attempt to clinch the win…At Carolina, Sept. 25, played on defense and special teams, recording a stop for loss…Vs. Las Vegas, Oct. 30, registered four tackles and a career-high two sacks for a 15-yard loss…At Pittsburgh, Nov. 13, saw action on both defense and on special teams, tying a career-high with five tackles (career-high tying four solo)...Vs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 20, rotated at DE and finished with one solo tackle for loss. 2021 – In five games, recorded 12 tackles (nine solo) and one sack for a four-yard loss, while also contributing on special teams…At Carolina, Sept. 19, saw his first NFL action at DE in debut, recording his first sack and five total tackles (four solo) with three stops for loss…Vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 3, recorded one solo tackle…At Washington, Oct. 10, saw time on defense and recorded three tackles (one solo)…Inactive for next two contests (calf)…Vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7, rotated in at DE and recorded three solo tackles…Placed on Injured Reserve (shoulder), Nov. 11.
COLLEGE CAREER – During his four collegiate seasons for University of Houston, notched career totals of 115 tackles (68 solo), ten sacks, 25 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, ten passes defensed and a blocked punt…Made four starts at BANDIT position and appeared in five games as senior. Team captain who led the Cougars with 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, earning second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Registered 25 tackles. Set career-highs for stops for loss (4.5) and sacks in season-opening win vs. Tulane, Oct. 8…Started 12 games as a junior and recorded 34 tackles (20 solo), eight stops for loss and four sacks…Started first 11 games before suffering season-ending foot injury as a sophomore, posting 42 tackles (21 solo), four passes defensed and a blocked punt…Appeared in 11 games as a freshman, totaling 14 tackles and one of seven Cougars to record at least one interception.
PERSONAL – Named to the 2016 18-6A All-District first-team at Westside (Houston, Texas) HS...Missed the majority of his senior year due to a torn ACL injury, posting 22 tackles and one interception in four games, before returning late in the basketball season right before the playoffs...Started athletic career as a youth playing baseball as a pitcher/first baseman. Was also a member of the Westside basketball program, a sport where he was also heavily recruited…Mother, Alaina and aunt, Cass Bauer-Bilodeau, were standout basketball players at Montana State…A huge fan of the Star Wars science fiction series, has collected over 400 action figures…In 2022, appeared at Algiers Charter School for a UnitedHealth Fit Zone appearance to encourage exercise…In 2022, hosted a Saints Play Football Experience at Willow School…Played in the 2023 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at Chateau Country Club…Interacted with fans at the 2023 Saints Draft Crawfish Cook-off, which benefited several Autism-related non-profits…Rode in the 2024 Krewe of Tucks Mardi Gras parade…Conducted a camp at his high school in June, where he donated guardian caps an also made a donation to the Hayne's Academy football team.
