It appears the Cowboys can add injury to the insult of a 28-20 opening night loss in New York, as two of the new-look defense's starters left the game early and did not return, with the team waiting to get more definitive long-term answers on Monday.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer gave an update on both veteran safety Malik Hooker and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown late Sunday night. The news could mean an early reshuffling of Christian Parker's defense.
Hooker went down awkwardly late in the third quarter, getting tangled with a Giants defender, slipping on the MetLife Stadium turf, and staying down after the play. It appeared initially that Hooker was holding his chest, but it was his arm that he was bracing as he exited the field.
His night
was over with just 12 snaps on the books. Schottenheimer told reporters following the game that the 30-year-old may have a break that, if confirmed, would likely require some time to heal.
"It looks like, from the X-rays here, that Hook may have fractured his forearm," Schottenheimer said in his postgame press conference. "We'll get more information, more testing tomorrow."
Malik Hooker is down with a chest injury#NFL #Cowboys #DallasCowboys #Giants #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/RhC95GtzSn
— Dom (@ZeroChillSports) September 14, 2026
Hooker has been a mostly durable player, especially since joining the Cowboys in 2021. After an ACL tear as a Colts rookie in 2017 and an Achilles tear that ended his time in Indianapolis, Hooker's only real injury as a Cowboy has been a toe issue that sidelined him for a portion of midseason.
Overshown pulled up on a pursuit play just a few minutes into Sunday's fourth quarter. Clutching at the back of his leg as he limped to the sideline and then the blue medical tent, the issue was obvious. Schottenheimer confirmed what everyone had seen.
"D-Mo's got a hamstring," the coach said. "We're not sure the severity of it yet."
DeMarvion Overshown is down with an injury
— Dom (@ZeroChillSports) September 14, 2026
Seems he may have pulled his hamstring?#NFL #Cowboys #DallasCowboys #Giants #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/tBbyOgBrK6
Overshown had played 51 snaps to that point, wearing the green communications dot signaling him as the defensive play-caller on the field. But his night was over after seven tackles and one costly late-hit penalty.
Hamstring issues can be tricky and lingering, and Overshown has already missed significant time to leg injuries in his short career; ACL tears in back-to-back years have allowed him to appear in just 20 games out of a possible 52 contests since the Cowboys drafted him in 2023.
This latest trip to the trainers' table will not help Overshown overcome a growing reputation as perhaps an injury-prone player who, for bad luck or whatever reason, simply cannot be relied upon to stay on the field.
More information about both Hooker and Overshown can be expected as the week begins.
Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Troubling injury updates for Cowboys on Hooker, Overshown from HC Schottenheimer
