Malik Hooker will continue his NFL career in Dallas.
The former Ohio State safety signed with the Cowboys on Tuesday and is already practicing with the team, wearing No. 28.
Malik Hooker wearing No. 28 with the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/Hmod3yxUEC
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2021
“I think it's clearly an opportunity to add another excellent player,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We had a chance to bring him in and he's completed his rehab. I think anytime you have a chance to just continue to build the competition on your roster, if it works out for both sides, you definitely have to take advantage of that.”
After tearing his Achilles last September, Hooker had remained unsigned since becoming a free agent in March. Now, though, he'll get his opportunity to play this season in Dallas, where he joins four other former Buckeyes on the Cowboys' roster: Ezekiel Elliott, Noah Brown, Johnnie Dixon and Jake McQuaide.
The No. 15 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Hooker started 35 games in four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, in which recorded 124 tackles, seven interceptions, 11 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. Injuries have been a recurring issue for Hooker in the NFL, however, as he has yet to play a full 16-game season in his career.
