Hooker finished 2024 with career highs in tackles (81), solo tackles (51) and pass breakups (five), while also picking off two passes.
The safety also started all 17 regular-season games and played on at least 81 percent of the defensive snaps in each. Hooker, a 2017 first-round pick of the Colts, signed with the Cowboys in 2021, re-signed for two years in 2022 and inked a three-year, $24-million extension in 2023 through 2026.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Nursing ankle injury
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Hooker (ankle) was limited during Wednesday's walkthrough practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Hooker registered two solo tackles and played 48 defensive snaps during the Cowboys' Week 15 win over the Panthers. However, it appears he picked up an ankle injury in the process which limited him in Wednesday's walkthrough. Hooker will need to practice in full over the next two days in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Snags pick in loss
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Hooker tallied seven tackles (four solo) and an interception in the Cowboys' loss to the Bengals on Monday.
Hooker was one of the few bright spots on Dallas' defense during Monday's loss as he recorded the team's only interception of Joe Burrow, which was his second of the campaign. Throughout 13 games played this season, the 2017 first-round pick has racked up 61 tackles (36 solo), which is just one short of his career high set back in 2022.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Cleared to play Week 3
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Hooker (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Ravens and is expected to play, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Hooker was upgraded to full participation for Friday's practice and is ready to go Sunday. The 28-year-old safety has played 93 percent of the defensive snaps through two games, recording six tackles (three solo).
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Reliable again in 2023
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Hooker racked up 50 tackles (27 solo), three pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season games with the Cowboys.
Hooker has stayed mostly healthy across three seasons with Dallas and in that span ingratiated himself as one of the key members of the team's three-man safety rotation, alongside Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson. Hooker looks set for a similar role in the Cowboys secondary for the 2024 campaign, after which the team will have a potential 'out' from the 27-year-old's contract.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Good to go Week 18
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Hooker (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Hooker was able to log a limited practice session Friday, and he will suit up for the Cowboys' regular-season finale. He's tallied 50 tackles (27 solo), three passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over 15 games this season.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Misses practice Wednesday
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Hooker (ankle) did not participate at the Cowboys' practice Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Hooker has been dealing with an ankle injury for a few weeks, but he's played in the team's last two contests, making Wednesday's absence less concerning. The safety will look to practice in full capacity at one of the Cowboys' final two sessions of the week ahead of their regular-season finale versus the Commanders on Sunday.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Could return versus Miami
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Hooker (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan Dallas reports.
Hooker missed the Cowboys' Week 15 loss to the Bills due to an ankle injury he sustained the week prior against the Eagles. He was able to finish off the week with back-to-back limited practice sessions to give himself a chance to play Sunday. Hooker has 46 tackles (24 solo), one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over 13 games this season.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Begins Week 16 prep with DNP
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Hooker (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Hooker missed Sunday's loss to Buffalo due to an ankle injury, and his chance of playing this coming Sunday in Miami is in question given his inability to practice Wednesday. The veteran safety had been consistently logging at least three-fourths of Dallas' defensive snaps prior to the injury, so another absence would be a significant blow to the team's secondary. Juanyeh Thomas logged a season-high 39 defensive snaps with Hooker out against the Bills in Week 15, and Thomas would presumably see an increased workload again this Sunday if Hooker remains unable to suit up.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Set to play Sunday vs. SF
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Hooker (shoulder) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's Week 5 contest against the 49ers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Hooker appeared on the injury report with a shoulder issue after logging a limited practice session Wednesday. He was limited again Thursday but managed to return to full participation Friday. That was enough for the Cowboys to deem him ready to play Week 5 in a key NFC battle versus San Francisco. Hooker has recorded 14 tackles (eight solo) along with an interception through four contests this season.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Available against Giants
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Hooker (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Hooker was added to Sunday's injury report due to an illness, but the issue won't prevent him from suiting up for the regular-season opener. Donovan Wilson (calf) has been ruled out, so Hooker could see an increased role in the secondary against the Giants.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Added to injury report
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Hooker has been added to the Cowboys' injury report ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Giants as questionable due to an illness, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Hooker's final status will ultimately depend on how he is feeling closer to kickoff. With Donovan Wilson (calf) deemed doubtful, the 27-year-old Hooker is trending toward a bigger role at free safety should he get the green light. However, if both are ruled out, Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas would be next men up.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Signs three-year extension
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Hooker signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $24 million with the Cowboys on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hooker's deal includes and $8 million signing bonus and $16.5 million guaranteed. The 27-year-old safety's set to remain a Cowboy through the 2026 season. Hooker set a career high with 62 tackles in 2022 while tying his career high with three interceptions.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Puts together solid season
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Hooker recorded 62 tackles (44 solo) with three interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown over 16 regular-season games in 2022.
The 26-year-old safety stayed mostly healthy, missing only a Week 8 contest against the Bears due to a hamstring strain, and as a result Hooker put together the most productive season of his career. The Cowboys' trio of safeties (Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Jayron Kearse) all posted strong numbers in coordinator Dan Quinn's defense, but with Wilson a free agent and potentially headed elsewhere, Hooker could see an increased workload in 2023.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Scores TD against former club
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Hooker recorded two tackles and returned a fumble for a 38-yard touchdown in Sunday's 54-19 win over the Colts.
The safety was taken 15th overall by Indianapolis in the 2017 NFL Draft, but his career with the Colts was marred by multiple injuries and he joined the Cowboys as a free agent last season. Hooker got some revenge against his former employers by scooping up a fumble and racing down the sidelines for the second of five Dallas TDs in the fourth quarter. The 26-year-old has stayed healthy this year and through 11 games he has 43 tackles, eight shy of his prior career high.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Sits out of practice
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Hooker (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
It's unclear when Hooker sustained his hamstring injury as he was able to compile a team-high 12 tackles in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. The safety will have two more practice opportunities prior to Sunday's contest against Chicago.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Big performance in Sunday's win
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Hooker recorded six tackles (five solo) and an interception in Sunday's win over the Giants.
The Dallas defense held New York to just two field goals on the afternoon thanks in part to four turnovers, including Hooker's first INT of the year. The former Colt was also one off the team lead in tackles for the game, and he needs just 14 more over the final three games to establish a new career high for a season in that category. Hooker isn't one of the biggest names in the Cowboys' secondary, but he's emerging as a key cog down the stretch.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Dons pads Wednesday
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Hooker (Achilles) did some individual work in pads Wednesday as he gets closer to practicing with the Cowboys, Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com reports. "Getting better. He's getting close," head coach Mike McCarthy said.
The safety missed 14 games last season due to a torn Achilles, but the Cowboys still signed him this offseason in the hopes Hooker can provide some depth in the secondary. Per COO Stephen Jones, the 25-year-old could join his new team at practice as soon as next week.
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Cowboys' Malik Hooker: Officially joins Cowboys
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Hooker (Achilles) signed a contract with the Cowboys on Tuesday, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reports.
Hooker's spot on the 90-man roster was opened up by Dallas placing Mitch Hyatt (knee) on injured reserve. The 25-year-old safety is working his way back from an Achilles injury suffered Week 2 last season, but the Cowboys appear to be satisfied with his recovery progress. If fully healthy, Hooker could have a clear path to joining Donovan Wilson as a starting safety.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Torn Achilles feared
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Hooker is believed to have a torn Achilles, and he'll have an MRI on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
While it hasn't been confirmed via MRI, Hooker is expected to miss the rest of the 2020 season. The 2017 first-round pick missed 14 games over his first three seasons in the league, so this is another tough development for the free safety. Either George Odum or Tavon Wilson likely will slot into Hooker's role, although rookie third-rounder Julian Blackmon could be in the mix as well.
