EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Safety Malik Hooker and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown both left the Dallas Cowboys season opener at the New York Giants on Sunday night. Hooker hurt a forearm late in the third quarter. Overshown went down early in the fourth with a hamstring injury and was ruled questionable to return.
Hooker got tangled with Giants tight end Chris Manhertz. He got to his feet and walked off the field.
Overshown was hurt running toward Giants running back Cam Skattebo. He grabbed at his right hamstring after taking a few steps forward, and he was helped off and evaluated on the sideline.
What The Cowboys Have Behind Malik Hooker And DeMarvion Overshown
P.J. Locke shared the starting safety spot with Hooker on the unofficial depth chart Dallas released before the opener, the two separated by an “or.” Locke signed March 10 after six seasons in Denver, where he played 90 games and started 16 last year.
Dee Winters is the other inside linebacker on the chart alongside Overshown.
Hooker is in his 10th season and his sixth in Dallas. Indianapolis took him 15th overall in 2017 out of Ohio State. He has 112 career games, 14 interceptions, and 195 interception return yards. He reworked his contract in March, a one-year deal worth $5 million.
Last season Hooker started 12 games and went on injured reserve with a toe injury, and he did not record an interception for the first time since 2020. The year before that he started all 17 and posted a career-high 81 tackles.
Overshown has missed 32 games in three seasons. A torn ACL in his left knee during the 2023 preseason cost him his entire rookie year after Dallas drafted him in the third round, 90th overall, out of Texas. He played 13 games in 2024 and had 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and an interception he returned 23 yards for a touchdown against the Giants on Thanksgiving.
That December he tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee against Cincinnati. Dallas activated him Nov. 14, 2025, and he played 6 games the rest of the way.
How The Dallas Cowboys Defense Was Playing
The Giants had 357 yards through 7:06 of the fourth quarter. They ran 28 times for 145 and averaged 5.2 a carry, and they picked up 10 first downs on the ground.
Jaxson Dart was 21-of-26 for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions, a passer rating of 139.3. His third touchdown pass covered 9 yards and came at 7:32 of the fourth, minutes after Overshown left.
Dallas caused 4 fumbles and recovered 1. The Cowboys had 2 sacks and 6 quarterback hits. New York held the ball for 31:19.
The Cowboys trailed 28-14. Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders in the home opener Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
