The Cowboys get another player back. Safety Malik Hooker has been activated from the Reserve/COVID list and is eligible to join the rest of the team for practice on Friday.
The veteran is the second member of the Dallas secondary to come off the COVID watchlist in recent days; rookie Israel Mukuamu rejoined the unit midweek. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, offensive lineman Connor Williams, and safety Damontae Kazee remain in the COVID protocol, as does defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Quinn has been in virtual communication with the team all week after being pulled from AT&T Stadium shortly before last Saturday night’s preseason kickoff versus Houston. He said on Thursday that he was “feeling fine” and was waiting on two negative tests within a 24-hour period in order to return to his duties, possibly in time for Sunday’s exhibition with Jacksonville.
Quinn attributes his “mild” case of COVID to having been fully vaccinated. Hooker had also received both does of the vaccine.
One update to the Cowboys COVID issues, Malik Hooker is fully vaccinated, a source said.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 23, 2021
Mukuamu was still in the waiting period following his second shot when he was identified as a close contact.
Cowboys rookie S Israel Mukuamu is not among those on team who tested positive for COVID-19, source said. He’s in protocol as a close contact and currently experiencing no symptoms. Mukuamu recently had second vaccination shot. In wait period to be “fully vaccinated.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 23, 2021
Hooker and Mukuamu have rejoined the roster at a key moment, with final cuts coming next week. The Cowboys must get from 79 players to 53 by August 31st, and both are part of a crowded secondary, with several players fighting for a job at the safety position.
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