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Malik Hooker Forearm Fracture Leaves Cowboys Facing Injury Timeline

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Malik Hooker Fracture

The Cowboys lost 28-20 to the New York Giants.
Safety Malik Hooker suffered a forearm fracture in the game.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said X-rays indicated a fracture and ordered further testing.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Hooker is seeing a hand specialist to assess his recovery timeline.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left with an unclear-severity hamstring injury ahead of the Sep. 20 game against Washington.

Summary

Hooker Free Agency

Safety Malik Hooker enters his contract’s final year and will become a free agent after the season.
He was seen as a cut or trade candidate despite Dallas’s safety overhaul.
If the Cowboys’ season falters, they could trade Hooker before the trade deadline.
P.J. Locke is expected to assume Hooker’s starting safety role.
Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell may receive increased defensive snaps, with no immediate roster additions announced.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, after Jerry Jones hired Barry Switzer, the Cowboys added safety Darren Woodson, who started every game and posted 94 combined tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown. The safety anchored a defense that guided Dallas to a 12-4 record and a Super Bowl XXX win. The current fracture to safety Malik Hooker has revived those memories, sparking talk of a similar secondary rebuild.

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Malik Hooker Fracture

The Cowboys lost 28-20 to the New York Giants.
Safety Malik Hooker suffered a forearm fracture in the game.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said X-rays indicated a fracture and ordered further testing.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Hooker is seeing a hand specialist to assess his recovery timeline.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left with an unclear-severity hamstring injury ahead of the Sep. 20 game against Washington.

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