Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that Hooker recently underwent thumb surgery, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Per Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Hooker's latest procedure was to address a dislocated thumb, which he likely sustained during Dallas' loss to the 49ers in the divisional round. The 26-year-old is expected to be ready for the team's offseason program without any limitations.
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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: Dozen tackles against Eagles
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Hooker recorded a team-high 12 tackles (10 solo) in Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
The veteran safety not only set a season high in tackles, he ties his personal career high -- a mark he'd previously reached as a Colt in 2018. Hooker already has 34 tackles through six games, and if he can stay healthy, he's on pace to shatter his prior personal best of 51 set over 13 games in 2019.
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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: Returns from COVID list
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The Cowboys activated Hooker (undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
Hooker was sent to the COVID list Monday, but he's now eligible to return to practice immediately Friday. The 25-year-old safety is expected to handle a key defensive role during Sept. 9's regular-season opener in Tampa Bay.
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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.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Suffers injury Sunday
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Hooker (Achilles) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against Minnesota, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.
It's unclear how Hooker suffered the injury, however, he was forced to leave the contest in the second quarter. As long as he's sidelined, look for George Odum to handle starting free safety duties.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Generates 51 stops in 2019
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Hooker registered 51 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions over 13 games in 2019.
Hooker missed three games due to a knee injury, but he started all 13 contests he suited up for. The 2017 first-round pick is headed into the final year of his rookie contract if the Colts don't pick up his fifth-year option, but they likely will since he's locked into a starting free safety role in 2020.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Questionable for Sunday
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Hooker (hand) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Hooker began the week not practicing but progressed to full participation Friday, which should put him on track to play Week 16. The 23-year-old hasn't missed a defensive snap in the last four games and seems likely to play his usual starting role Sunday.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Tending to knee issue
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Hooker did not participate in Thursday's practice due to a knee injury.
Hooker underwent surgery to trim his meniscus Sept. 24, and he's received periodic days off from practice since retaking the field Week 8. It remains to be seen whether his current absence signifies anything more than rep management to maintain his health. If he's able to suit up against the Jaguars on Sunday, Hooker stands to play his usual every-down role.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Unable to practice
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Hooker (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.
Hooker was held out of last Friday's practice but was active for this past Sunday's loss to the Steelers. He logged 56 of a possible 63 snaps (89 percent) in the contest and made five tackles. Hooker was an every-snap player last season, so it appears the Colts are holding him back slightly to help maintain his health. The third-year pro may be on a similar track for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Full go Wednesday
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Hooker (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Hooker told reporters he would be ready to go for Sunday's game against the Broncos, and his full-speed practice puts him on track to suit up for the first time since Week 3. The third-year pro will likely fill in as a nearly every-snap player against a Broncos team that will have a new look without Emmanuel Sanders (to 49ers) in the fold.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Goes under knife
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Hooker underwent surgery Tuesday to trim his meniscus, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
This is a standard procedure for a torn meniscus in the knee, and Hooker's timeframe to return is still four to six weeks. The Colts likely will turn to Khari Willis to start at free safety in his place, while George Odum and Rolan Milligan rotate in for select nickel packages.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Out 4-6 weeks with meniscus injury
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Hooker is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks while he recovers from a torn meniscus in his knee, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hooker returned to Sunday's 27-24 win over Atlanta after he suffered the injury, but he'll now need some time to recover. It's a big loss for the Indianapolis defense, with the 2017 first-round pick off to a strong start this season. Khari Willis replaced Hooker during the Week 3 win, and George Odum also might be in the mix for snaps at free safety.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Notches pick in loss
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Hooker recorded five total tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in Sunday's overtime loss to the Chargers.
Hooker returned the pick for 26 yards after making a gorgeous one-handed snag in the end zone. The third-year-pro was on the field for 55 of the defense's snaps (86 percent). Hooker's interception was the only turnover forced by the Colts' defense Sunday.
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Colts' Malik Hooker: Recovered from foot injury
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Hooker (foot) has been a full participant in the offseason program, Andrew Walker of Colts.com reports.
Hooker injured his foot during the opening round of the playoffs and wasn't able to suit up when the Colts were eliminated by Kansas City the next week. The 2017 first-round pick is locked in as a starter, sitting on 65 tackles (45 solo), eight passes defensed and five interceptions in 21 career games. His role as a traditional free safety isn't conductive to steady IDP production, but Hooker's strong work in deep coverage makes him quite valuable to the Colts.
