Rap: Malik Hooker has fractured bone in forearm

Hooker hasn’t played since suffering a toe injury in Week 4 against the Packers. Hooker returns to a Cowboys defense that currently ranks 31st in both points and yards allowed, and that has been particularly bad through the air. Hooker has totaled 20 tackles in the four games he has appeared in this season.

Hooker picked up the injury in Sunday night’s game against the Packers. He was limited to a season-low 30 defensive snaps as a result of the injury, and could now miss a few weeks to recover. The Cowboys’ defense currently ranks among the worst in the league through four weeks, allowing the second-most points per game (33.0) and the passing yards per game and yards per attempt (8.5) through the air. His absence won’t do anything to help a team that already needs help in the secondary.

In addition to Hankins, S Malik Hooker (ankle) was also a non-participant on Wednesday. It is still early in the week, but if both Hooker and Hankins can’t go, the Cowboys defense will be weaker against a high-powered Dolphins offense in Week 16.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is worth “up to” $24 million, includes an $8 million signing bonus, and features $16.5 million in guarantees. Hooker signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in 2021 and served as the team’s third safety. His role took a leap forward in 2022 as he played on 81 percent of the team’s defensive snaps across 16 games. Hooker totaled three pass breakups, three interceptions, and 62 total tackles. He also took a fumble 32 yards into the end zone in Week 13 versus his former team, the Colts.

Hooker was coming off a lost season due to a torn Achilles’ when the Cowboys took a one-year flier on him last offseason. He was only credited with three starts during his first season in Dallas, but Hooker logged 446 snaps, showing that durability wasn’t an issue. He recorded 44 combined tackles, two pass defenses, and one interception. Both of the starting safeties in Dallas are free agents. Bringing back Hooker gives the team some flexibility on whether or not both members of the starting duo are re-signed. Hooker, a former first-round pick, could be in line for a full-time role in 2022.

The Cowboys also activated DT Trysten Hill, RB JaQuan Hardy and WR Brandon Smith from the COVID list. Hooker should be up to speed in time for the Cowboys’ Week 17 game against Arizona. He has two pass defenses and an interception this year.

Hooker has tested positive, and has little shot at getting cleared in time for Sunday’s game against the Football Team. Enjoying a nice mini resurgence in Big D, Hooker is playing 30-40 solid weekly snaps. He will hopefully be back for Week 17 vs. Arizona.

The No. 15 overall pick of the 2017 draft was allowed to play out his rookie contract with the Colts after tearing his Achilles’ tendon last September, the latest in a long line of injuries. Amazingly still only 25 years old, Hooker is the kind of bounce-back flier you take, though the Achilles is a horse of a different color for an injury comeback. It is nevertheless a zero-risk bet to make on a player whose career got off to a strong start.

Hooker, who visited Dallas earlier this offseason, will sign with the Cowboys as long as his health checks out. The 25-year-old’s free agent market was delayed as he recovered from September Achilles surgery. It’s a high upside signing for the Cowboys, with Hooker giving them a ballhawking safety opposite Donovan Wilson. The ex-Colts first-rounder is entering a make-or-break 2021 after missing 17 games the past two seasons.

Hooker had visits with the Steelers, Dolphins, and Cowboys this offseason. Talks could be revisited in the coming weeks, with more teams potentially getting in the mix. Hooker is nine months removed from Achilles surgery and said he feels “capable” of playing right now. The oft-injured 25-year-old is likely to play 2021 on a prove-it contract.