As Brian Schottenheimer embarks on his inaugural season as the Head Coach for the Dallas Cowboys, one factor that could throw a wrench in his plans is the ever-persistent injury bug. While the overall health of the roster looks relatively stable, with star cornerback Trevon Diggs among those on the mend, the Cowboys are not without their challenges.
In the latest twist on the injury front, safety Malik Hooker exited Tuesday’s practice with back spasms, casting a shadow over the safety group that has already been jostled this offseason. Fortunately, while not ideal, this situation appears manageable—at least for now.
Hooker’s setback comes amidst a backdrop of injuries in the safety room. Donovan Wilson has been working through rehab during OTAs, and Markquese Bell is still recovering from a severe shoulder injury he sustained last season. With Hooker and Wilson sidelined, the Cowboys turned to Juanyeh Thomas and undrafted free agent Alijah Clark as their first-team safeties during drills. Thomas, in particular, has been busy in the nickel cornerback role as the team searches for alternatives to longtime starter Jourdan Lewis.
The silver lining here, as reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer, is that Hooker believes he could return to practice as early as Thursday. Cowboys fans might hold their breath, hoping the 29-year-old takes precautionary measures and sits out until mandatory minicamp next week. After all, Hooker has proven to be a vital cog in Dallas’ secondary since joining the team in 2022, shaking off past injury woes that once plagued his career.
His performance speaks for itself. Over the last three seasons, Hooker ranks in the top 10 among safeties with an impressive 89.3 run-defense grade and sits comfortably in the top 20 with a 78.8 overall player grade according to Pro Football Focus. This kind of productivity highlights just how essential he is to the Cowboys’ defensive scheme.
While the depth of talent at safety is encouraging and it sparks intrigue about defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’s potential utilization of players like Thomas and Bell, there’s no denying Hooker’s significant impact on the unit. Although this current injury seems to be more of a scare than anything overly serious, back spasms are notoriously unpredictable. It certainly complicates matters, especially with a player of his experience now dealing with back issues in the early stages of the offseason.
For the Cowboys, maintaining health as they gear up for the next phase of the season is crucial. As the roster continues to take shape, the focus will be on both the players returning from injuries and the depth emerging from less heralded names. With Schottenheimer at the helm, the team has a chance to shape its identity, and getting everyone in fighting shape will be a key part of that puzzle.
