Malik Hooker’s recovery timeline remains unsettled after the Dallas Cowboys safety fractured his forearm during the second half of the Week 1 loss to the New York Giants. He left the game and did not return, and the injury could keep him out for as many as six weeks.
Hooker is meeting with a hand specialist, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The expected absence will depend on which bone was damaged and the type of break, since some fractures heal faster than others. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game that he thought Hooker had a forearm fracture.
Team co-owner Stephen Jones said some breaks can be played through, meaning Hooker might not miss a game.
Dallas also lost linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to a hamstring injury early in the opener, with no condition update provided. The Cowboys primarily used Caleb Downs and Jalen Thompson at safety when Downs was not in the slot. P.J. Locke could fill Hooker’s spot, while Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell could see more chances. Neither Clark nor Bell played on defense in Week 1.
Hooker is entering the last season of his contract and is due to become a free agent afterward. He had been considered a potential trade or release candidate during the offseason after Dallas reworked its safety group, but stayed with the Cowboys and played a significant defensive role in the opener. His future with the team beyond this season has not been determined.
