FRISCO, Texas — Malik Hooker has surgery Tuesday. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that the Dallas Cowboys safety did fracture a bone in the season opener, and that Dallas expects him back inside a two-week window.
The New York Giants won 28-20 on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Hooker left with under a minute remaining in the third quarter on a Jaxson Dart scramble that gained 2 yards. He finished with 1 tackle on 12 defensive snaps.
“Yeah, does in fact have a fracture,” Schottenheimer said. “It sounds like it’s one that doesn’t require as long of a period of time, so we’re hoping it’s like a two-week window. Have surgery tomorrow.”
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown came out of the same round of testing with a hamstring strain rather than anything structural.
“Yeah, a strain,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, looks like it could be one to two weeks as well, but we’ll see how he does, but nothing long-term.”
Overshown went down with 12:04 left in the fourth quarter on a Cam Skattebo run that cornerback Cobie Durant ended by forcing a fumble the Giants recovered. He played 51 defensive snaps and recorded 7 combined tackles.
Neither player is expected to require injured reserve.
Dee Winters Is The Most Experienced Option At Linebacker
Overshown wore the green dot in the opener and handled the defensive calls. Dallas acquired Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers in a trade on Day 2 of the 2026 draft. He played 40 defensive snaps Sunday.
Schottenheimer named Winters first when the position came up.
“Yeah, again, we’ve got to move these guys around a little bit,” Schottenheimer said. “Dee Winters, obviously most experienced of the group.”
Jaishawn Barham logged 34 defensive snaps in his first NFL regular-season game. Dallas drafted him in the third round at No. 92 overall out of Michigan. Shemar James was on the field for 16 special teams snaps and 1 on defense.
Schottenheimer went through both.
“Jaishawn got some valuable play time yesterday, did some good things, did some things that he needs to improve on,” Schottenheimer continued. “Shemar James is a valued member of our football team. Very smart, very bright.”
Dallas is not pulling snaps back from its young defenders this week.
“We’re going to play our young players this weekend too, and they’re going to play better,” Schottenheimer said.
The Dallas Cowboys Have Practice Squad Elevations Available
Dallas also has practice squad options through standard gameday elevations, and Schottenheimer named two linebackers there.
“And then obviously we’ve got some guys on practice squad that we’ve got elevations,” Schottenheimer said. “Curtis Robinson is a veteran. He’s played a lot of football in this league as well. And then Justin Barron’s a guy we have a lot of high expectations for.”
Four Dallas linebackers recorded defensive snaps in the opener.
New York gained 165 rushing yards on 37 carries, converted 9 of 11 third downs, held the ball for 36:40, and punted once.
Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
