Malik Hooker was an "unexpected absence" at Cowboys practice before Vikings week, but early signs point to veteran rest ... not a Week 15 disaster.
The Dallas Cowboys were back on the field Wednesday afternoon at The Star, ramping up preparations for their Week 15 Sunday Night Football showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
With the game set for AT&T Stadium under the primetime lights once again, it was a high-energy session in Frisco as Dallas looks to bounce back and improve its playoff positioning.
There was plenty of good news on the practice field, as several key starters were spotted going through drills while working their way back from injury.
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However, media members in attendance did note one "unexpected absence" that immediately raised a few eyebrows. Starting safety Malik Hooker was not on the field during the open portion of practice.
According to Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News, Hooker was not present, but there isn't an immediate reason to sound the alarm.
Hoyt pointed out that Hooker has had a few veteran rest days recently, calling the absence "not too shocking, but notable" and adding that the exact reason would be clarified later.
In other words, this may simply be a case of the Cowboys managing the workload of one of their most important defenders as the stretch run heats up.
The team will release its official practice report on Wednesday evening, which should provide concrete clarification on Hooker's status.
Until then, all indications suggest this could be routine maintenance rather than a true injury setback, especially given his recent vet days.
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Hooker's presence on Sunday would be a significant boost for a Dallas defense preparing to face a Vikings offense that leads the league in interceptions thrown.
His range and instincts on the back end are exactly the kind of traits that can turn a shaky opposing passing game into a turnover festival in primetime.
Kickoff between the Cowboys and Vikings is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines.
As for Hooker, all eyes will be on that injury report. But for now, Cowboys fans can probably holster the panic button.