By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2025 NFL season with a solid QB1 in Jared Goff—but it’s the backup quarterback situation that’s starting to heat up. With a young talent trying to prove himself and a seasoned veteran fighting to hold on, Detroit’s quarterback room is under a bright spotlight.
Is It Finally Hendon Hooker’s Time?
When the Lions selected Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 draft, many fans and analysts believed he was being groomed as the potential successor to Jared Goff. But with Goff’s career renaissance in Detroit—now locked in with a 4-year, $212 million extension—Hooker’s trajectory has shifted.
Despite missing his rookie season while recovering from an ACL injury and then being edged out by Teddy Bridgewater for the backup role, Hooker has stayed in the mix. And now, heading into his second full offseason, he’s getting another shot to prove he’s ready.
According to SI.com’s Christian Booher, the coaching staff is expected to give Hooker a long look this summer, with preseason games and joint practices offering prime opportunities for evaluation.
“The Lions will have plenty of opportunities to evaluate Hooker’s development in game situations,” Booher wrote. “Allen may provide a stiff test, but Hooker should do well enough to remain the Lions’ backup.”
Kyle Allen Brings Experience—But Is That Enough?
Enter Kyle Allen, the seven-year veteran who has appeared in 31 NFL games with 19 starts under his belt. He’s thrown for 4,753 yards and 26 touchdowns with a completion rate of 62.7%. That’s a respectable résumé for any QB2 in the league.
The Lions signed Allen to a one-year, $1.3 million deal this offseason to challenge Hooker, and it’s not just a courtesy competition. As GM Brad Holmes put it:
“Still got high hopes for [Hooker], but nobody’s gonna be given a job either. So if Hendon wants to be the number two quarterback, then win the No. 2 quarterback job.”
Allen’s experience gives him a slight edge on paper, but the Lions may lean toward developing their younger quarterback—especially one they drafted with a clear plan in mind just two years ago.
The Lions Like Hooker—But They Want to See More
Despite limited NFL action, Hooker has shown flashes of promise, and the Lions aren’t ready to give up on that potential just yet.
“We like Hendon,” Holmes said in April. “He just wasn’t ready yet… and he understood that.”
Now, that excuse is off the table. With Bridgewater gone and a full healthy offseason ahead, Hooker is on the clock.
Final Thoughts: Time for a Youth Movement?
It’s not often a 7-year NFL veteran like Kyle Allen finds himself in a legitimate roster battle with a second-year player, but that’s exactly where the Lions’ quarterback room stands. And with the franchise all-in on Goff, this backup battle could end up being one of the more important side stories of Detroit’s training camp.
If Hooker delivers on his potential this summer, the Lions may very well part ways with Allen before Week 1. The message is clear: the job is up for grabs—but someone’s getting cut.
And for Hooker, it might just be his moment to shine.