The Dallas Cowboys looked like a dead team walking in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers. Thanks to some special teams magic, great quarterback play from Dak Prescott, and a strip-sack forced by James Houston, the Cowboys miraculously took a 16-13 lead into halftime.
The most interesting storyline from here on out is if Dallas' defense continues to hold up. That just got a lot tougher after starting safety Malik Hooker hobbled off late in the second quarter.
Initially ruled questionable to return with a toe injury, Hooker was ruled out for the game as the second half got underway. The NBC broadcast showed Hooker come up limp while in coverage. It was a non-contact injury, which doesn't bode well, but it's impossible to know the severity at this juncture.
Cowboys lose DB Malik Hooker to a toe injury on SNF
Juanyeh Thomas has subbed in for Hooker. That is something Cowboys fans can get behind, as the safety play left a lot to be desired over the first three games.
Thomas is a player who deserves more snaps, and he proved that by blocking the Packers' extra-point attempt in the second quarter, which Markquese Bell scooped up and returned to the house to get Dallas on the scoreboard with two points.
While Hooker has not played at a Pro Bowl level, Donovan Wilson has been the bigger issue in the defensive backfield. In three games, Hooker's posted an 81.7 run-defense grade that ranked ninth out of 124 safeties entering Sunday's action, per PFF.
Hooker's veteran presence will be missed. If it's any consolation, the Cowboys will get a longer look at Thomas to see if he can buoy a secondary that can't help but give up explosive plays. And make no mistake: for all of the fight Dallas has shown against the Packers, they are still giving up big plays at an unsustainable rate.