Cowboys safety P.J. Locke says defense doing 'extra work' after Giants loss as he prepares to start for injured Malik Hooker

Dallas Cowboys veteran safety P.J. Locke will make his first start Sunday against Washington after Malik Hooker broke his forearm.

A fractured forearm will sideline Cowboys starting safety Malik Hooker for several weeks, forcing Dallas to reshuffle its defensive backfield ahead of Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. Veteran P.J. Locke steps into the starting role, marking his first start with the Cowboys organization. The team is based in Frisco, Texas, and the game is scheduled for Week 2 of the NFL season. Locke is not a stranger to the field for Dallas — in the Week 1 loss to the New York Giants, he logged 28 snaps at safety, the second-most on the team behind Jalen Thompson, who played 63. With Hooker now unavailable, Locke's snap count is expected to increase significantly in the starting lineup. Speaking at The Star on Wednesday, Locke noted that Cowboys defenders have been doing extra work between team periods this week, describing it as the response everybody wanted following the 28-20 loss to the Giants. Hooker's injury adds further pressure to a defense already looking to bounce back, with Thompson and Locke expected to anchor the secondary against Washington.

Why it matters

Losing a starting safety to a multi-week injury in Week 2 tests a defense's depth early in the season. How Locke and the Cowboys' secondary perform against the Commanders could shape Dallas's early-season defensive identity.

What's next

Watch whether the Cowboys make any roster moves to add depth at safety ahead of Sunday's game against Washington.

Key facts

• Malik Hooker suffered a fractured forearm and is expected to miss several weeks
• P.J. Locke will make his first start as a Cowboy on Sunday against the Washington Commanders
• Locke played 28 snaps in Week 1 against the Giants, second only to Jalen Thompson's 63
• The Cowboys are based in Frisco, Texas, and this is a Week 2 matchup
• Thompson remains the top snap-count safety for Dallas heading into the game

Bias & framing notes

Only one source was available and the reporting was truncated, leaving key details — such as the full extent of the defensive reshuffling, any coaching quotes beyond Locke's, and game context — unavailable. The headline leans toward a motivational framing ('one play at a time') rather than leading with the injury news, which is the more concrete development.

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