It’s been a brutal start to the 2025 season for the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary, and things just got worse.

After surrendering a league-high 1,189 passing yards through the first four games — a stat that speaks volumes about Dallas’ struggles on the back end — the team will now be without one of its top defensive backs for the foreseeable future.

Safety Malik Hooker was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to a toe injury suffered during last week’s tie with the Green Bay Packers. By rule, Hooker will miss at least the next four games, and the Cowboys are hopeful of a return this season.

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Hooker has long been considered one of the NFL’s most underrated safeties. His ability to cover deep zones and anticipate throws has been a stabilizing force in an otherwise inconsistent secondary.

With him sidelined, Dallas now leans on Juanyeh Thomas, a former undrafted free agent who’s gradually carved out a rotational role. Thomas has flashed in recent weeks — most notably in Week 4, when he blocked an extra point that Markquese Bell returned for a two-point score — but stepping in for Hooker full-time will be his biggest test yet.

To fill Hooker’s roster spot, the Cowboys promoted undrafted rookie Alijah Clark to the active roster. Clark was a standout in the preseason and will provide depth as the team rotates safeties alongside Thomas and Bell.

“The #Cowboys have placed starting safety Malik Hooker on injured reserve with a toe injury. He’ll miss the next four games.
Undrafted rookie Alijah Clark has been signed to the active roster in his spot. Juanyeh Thomas will take over his starting responsibilities.”
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST), October 4, 2025

Hooker’s injury compounds an already worrying trend for Dallas: they’ve been torched deep and often. The Cowboys have given up more yards through the air than any other team in the league, and breakdowns in coverage have led to an alarming number of explosive plays.

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With a matchup against the New York Jets looming in Week 5 — and rising star George Pickens heating up — this reshuffled secondary will face immediate pressure to improve. If Dallas hopes to stay in the playoff hunt, their revamped secondary needs to stop the bleeding — and fast. All eyes now shift to Juanyeh Thomas and whether he can deliver as the next man up.

The Cowboys and Jets kick off on Sunday at noon CT from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.