After his best game yet with the Cowboys, Safety Malik Hooker has tested positive for COVID-19 and gone into the protocol. He status for Sunday’s game against the Washington Football Team is currently unknown.

Hooker had an interception and six tackles last week in Dallas’ victory over the New York Giants. It was his most noteworthy game so far in 2021 and the first time Malik’s recorded an interception since playing with the Colts in 2019.

A former first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Hooker has been trying to reboot his career in Dallas. He joined the team just before training camp and was beaten out by Jayron Kearse and Damontae Kazee for starting roles, but Malik has at times played a significant role on half or more of the defensive snaps for a game.

Cowboys S Malik Hooker has tested positive for COVID-19. Hooker is coming off his best game of season. Status now in doubt for Sunday vs. Washington. He and practice-squad RB JaQuan Hardy both with positive tests today.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/MalikHooker24/status/1474093735466225670

Thankfully, it appears Hooker’s potential absence will coincide to Donovan Wilson’s return from injured reserve. Dallas designated him to return to practice last week and Wilson was already expected to get back onto the field this Sunday.

If Wilson or another safety were not available against Washington, veteran Darian Thompson would likely see action off the practice squad.

With Kearse and Kazee still playing the majority of snaps at safety, losing Hooker isn’t a crushing blow for Dan Quinn’s secondary. But last week Hooker flashed the kind of playmaking that once made him a 15th overall pick and could eventually lift him into the starting lineup.

Hopefully, this setback won’t stop Malik Hooker from continuing to progress as the Cowboys get closer to the playoffs.