Dallas left Sunday night with more than a loss on its hands. The Cowboys may also be staring at a significant blow in the secondary after starting safety Malik Hooker fractured a bone in his forearm during the 28-20 defeat to the Giants.
Ian Rapoport reported that Hooker is meeting with a hand specialist to figure out the recovery timeline. The hope, based on the specific bone and the nature of the break, is that the absence won’t stretch to the six-week range that can come with some fractures.
Hooker exited in the fourth quarter and did not return. X-rays at MetLife Stadium initially revealed the fracture, and additional tests followed on Monday. He finished the game with one tackle.
After the game, coach Brian Schottenheimer said the forearm looked broken. Rapoport’s report confirmed that concern, and the next step is the specialist visit.
If Hooker has to miss time, Dallas will have to reshuffle at safety. Jalen Thompson, Caleb Downs, and P.J. Locke have already taken safety snaps, and Locke looks like the most likely candidate to pick up extra work.
The Cowboys needed Hooker on a night when the defense was already getting stretched. New York rolled up 394 yards, and Christian Parker’s first game as defensive coordinator featured too many chunk plays. John Harbaugh’s Giants debut ended with the 28-20 result.
Hooker, 30, entered the league as the Colts’ first-round pick at No. 15 overall in 2017 out of Ohio State. He’s been with Dallas since 2021. Last season, a toe injury cost him five games, and he finished 2025 with 52 tackles in 12 starts.
This latest setback fits an unfortunate pattern. Availability has long been part of the conversation with Hooker.
The injury list didn’t stop there. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left on the same drive with a hamstring injury, and the severity is still unknown. Backup running back Malik Davis is already on injured reserve after a Friday hip injury and Saturday surgery, leaving the roster thin before kickoff.
Hooker’s old extension keeps him in place as a veteran piece, and the cap hit remains whether he’s on the field in Week 2 or not. Washington is next on the schedule, and if the specialist’s answer points to a longer recovery, Dallas could be without its opening-night starting safety. No injured reserve designation has been announced yet.
The Cowboys are hoping the fracture turns out to be the kind that heals faster than expected. That’s the only real comfort right now.
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