NFL veteran safety Malik Hooker signed a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Hooker spent the first four seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Former Colts’ first-round pick Malik Hooker officially signed with the Cowboys.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2021
Malik Hooker, Dallas Cowboys, Agree to Deal
Hooker spent most of the 2020 season on the sidelines. The safety tore his Achilles on September 20th in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. The injury ended his season as Hooker was placed on injured reserve two days later. He ended the season with seven total tackles in two starts.
Prior to his fourth year in the league, the Colts declined to pick up Hooker’s fifth-year option from his rookie deal. Hooker has never completed a season injury-free during his time in the league. However, he recorded the most tackles of his career in 2019. In 13 starts, Hooker made 52 tackles and two interceptions.
Hooker also started 13 games for Indianapolis in 2018. Returning from an ACL tear that ended his rookie season prematurely, Hooker racked up 41 total tackles and two interceptions. The Colts made the playoffs with a 10-6 record in 2018 and Hooker made his playoff debut in a Wild Card round victory over the Houston Texans. Hooker made two tackles in the 21-7 win. Indianapolis lost in the divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs the following week.
Injury Prone Career
Hooker’s rookie season was marred with the aforementioned ACL injury. He suffered the injury in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Hooker was placed on injured reserve the following week. The injury ended a promising season for the Colts first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Hooker made three interceptions in his first three starts at safety. Including an interception in his first career start as Hooker picked off Carson Palmer during a Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Indianapolis selected Hooker with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 draft. Hooker declared for the draft as a redshirt sophomore out of Ohio State and was the second safety selected, behind LSU’s Jamal Adams.
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