The Dallas Cowboys are getting a rude awakening for the 2026 season. The New York Giants have handled the Cowboys' new look defense pretty easily, as it has looked a bit too similar to the 2025 version. And in the middle of two lengthy second half drives that totaled almost 15 minutes between them, the Cowboys have lost some personnel as well as some of their will.
First, safety Malik Hooker went out at the end of the third quarter with a forearm injury. Then, later on the same drive but deep into the fourth quarter, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left the game with a hamstring injury.
Hooker has been replaced by PJ Locke, a free-agent signing out of Denver. Overshown was replaced by rookie Jaishawn Barham out of Michigan. Barham is part of a heavy
defensive draft by the Cowboys. Fellow rookies Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence have also seen action in the contest.
Barham takes over the green-dot duties for the Cowboys' defense. That's the player who relays the play calls from new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Both Overshown and Hooker are listed as questionable to return.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Injury Update: Cowboys down 2 defensive starters in 4Q vs Giants
