Cowboys Reveal Brutal Injury News After Losing to Giants

Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer delivered a sobering injury report late Sunday night after his team opened the season with a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants.

Schottenheimer said safety Malik Hooker might have a fractured forearm. The coach added that Hooker will undergo “more testing tomorrow” to confirm the initial diagnosis.

Hooker left the game late in the third quarter and did not return. The injury happened away from the play on a two-yard run by Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The Cowboys also lost linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who departed with a hamstring injury. Schottenheimer said he wasn’t “sure the severity” of that ailment.

Both players were on the field for most of the night, and Dallas still could not slow New York’s offense. The Giants piled up 394 total yards, including 165 on the ground.

New York averaged 4.5 yards per carry and held the ball for 36 minutes, 40 seconds. That time of possession gap left the Cowboys defense on the field far too long.

Dart finished 23 of 29 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two scores in his Giants debut.

Dallas managed only 244 yards. Dak Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The Cowboys cut the deficit to 28-20 on a late touchdown catch by Javonte Williams, but a missed extra point left them needing another score they never got.

Hooker is in his 10th NFL season and his sixth with Dallas. Indianapolis drafted him 15th overall out of Ohio State in 2017.

He reworked his contract in March into a one-year deal worth $5 million, with a maximum value of $8 million. His 2026 cap number is about $6.56 million.

Last season Hooker started 12 games and recorded 52 tackles before a toe injury sent him to injured reserve. In 2024 he started all 17 games and posted a career-high 81 tackles.

P.J. Locke, signed in free agency from Denver, stepped in after Hooker left. Jalen Thompson held the other safety spot.

Overshown’s availability is a familiar concern. The 2023 third-round pick from Texas has missed significant time with knee injuries earlier in his career.

Rookie Jaishawn Barham took over communication duties when Overshown went out. The Cowboys drafted several defensive pieces this spring to add depth.

Schottenheimer’s staff now waits on imaging results for Hooker. A fractured forearm would threaten his availability beyond Week 1 and further thin a secondary already under pressure.

Dallas is 0-1 and faces a short week of questions about how many of its defensive starters will be ready for the next game.