Ezekiel Turner was born on June 9, 1996, he is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington as a defensive back and was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. Turner was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team as a special teamer in the 2018 NFL season.
Turner enrolled at the University of Washington in January 2015 and played as a defensive back for the Washington Huskies during his remaining college career.
Turner was named Huskies Special Teams Player of the Week four different times in his college career and was selected as the co-winner of the Special Teams MVP in the 2016 season.
Turner played 12 of 13 games and started one game in his sophomore season. Turner got his first start versus Stanford University, where he had a total of seven tackles.
Tuner played in 13 of 14 games during his junior season. Turner had a tackle for loss and an interception in the 2016 Pac-12 Football Championship Game vs. the Colorado Buffaloes.
Selected as the co-winner of the Special Teams MVP award following his junior season after totaling 23 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble.
On September 13, 2020, in the season opener, Turner blocked a punt against San Francisco 49ers’ punter Mitch Wishnowsky in the first quarter. Turner’s teammate Dennis Gardeck recovered and advanced the ball five yards to the 49ers’ 10-yard line.
On December 20, 2020, in Week 15, Turner blocked a punt against Philadelphia Eagles’ punter Cameron Johnston in the first quarter. The ball bounced out of bounds at the Eagles’ 6-yard line, which ended the Eagles’ drive on a turnover on downs. In the fourth quarter, on fourth-and-2, Turner caught a 26-yard reception from his punter Andy Lee on a successful fake punt resulting in a first down for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals placed a restricted free-agent tender on Turner on March 15, 2021. He signed the one-year contract on April 19. He was placed on injured reserve on October 13, 2021, with a shoulder injury. He was activated on January 17, 2022. On March 18, 2022, Turner re-signed with the Cardinals.
Turner signed a one-year, $1.5 million total deal. He gets $152,500 as a signing bonus. $347,500 of his salary is fully guaranteed. His 2022 salary is nearly $1.35 million.