Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker is seeking medical guidance after fracturing a bone in his forearm during the team’s season-opening loss to the New York Giants. He left the game in the second half and did not return.
SI.com reported that Hooker is consulting a hand specialist to determine how long he may be unavailable. The recovery period could reach six weeks for some types of breaks, although the timeline will depend on the specific bone and the nature of the injury.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game that he believed Hooker had fractured his forearm. Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones also said some fractures can be played through, leaving open the possibility that Hooker could avoid missing a game. The team has not established his recovery timetable.
Hooker was not the only Dallas player injured in the opener. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left the game with a hamstring injury, and no update on his status had been provided in the report.
Caleb Downs and Jalen Thompson handled the primary safety duties when Downs was not playing in the slot during the opener. If Hooker is unavailable, P.J. Locke is expected to take on his role, while Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell could receive additional opportunities after neither played a defensive snap in Week 1.
