Cowboys Playmaker Endures Major Injury Scare During OTAs

The Dallas Cowboys continued their offseason program this past Tuesday and there were some notable takeaways during the OTA practice from inside The Star, where CowboysCountry.com's Mike Fisher was present.

Promising young defenders DeMarvion Overshown and Sam Williams were working with the rehab group as they push towards returning to the field this season.

Elite wide receiver George Pickens sported his new No. 3 jersey and made plays all over the field.

Now for the bad news.

While the Cowboys are anticipating the return of several key players, starting safety Malik Hooker suffered an injury that forced him to leave practice early.

We now are told that Hooker was dealing with back spasms and the word is that the defensive back will be fine for Thursday’s OTAs.

Hooker is arguably one of the Cowboys’ most underrated players and has brought stability and playmaking to the free safety position since his arrival in 2021.

The former Ohio State Buckeye was selected 15^th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Hooker has always been an undeniably talented football player but a devastating torn Achilles in 2020 with the Colts was a setback.

Hooker was recently ranked as a top 20 safety in the NFL by PFF’s Zoltan Buday—further proving his value to the Cowboys.

Buday ranked the top 32 players at the safety position but noted Hooker declined in 2024.

"Following two strong seasons in which he ranked among the top 15 safeties in PFF overall grade, Hooker’s play declined this past season. The Ohio State product’s 65.3 PFF overall grade ranked only 42nd at the position. However, over the previous two seasons, he combined to allow just 19 receptions and three touchdowns in coverage,” Buday wrote.

With Matt Eberflus now in the fold as the new defensive coordinator in Dallas, Hooker will be in a system he is familiar with—one that will hopefully allow him to tap into his early career success. ... as he pushes on with good health.