It’s starting to feel a bit like déjà vu in Detroit.
Back in 2022, the Lions were underwhelmed by their backup quarterback options and ended up parting ways with both Tim Boyle and David Blough before the regular season kicked off. Fast forward to now — after watching OTAs on Friday — and things are feeling eerily familiar.
Let’s just say it wasn’t a banner day for Hendon Hooker or Kyle Allen. The offense looked flat during their reps, with way too many checkdowns, missed connections, and plays that would’ve ended in sacks if they weren’t in non-contact mode. At one point, rookie pass rusher Ahmed Hassanein would’ve absolutely leveled Allen if it had been live action. Reporters on the scene noted it wouldn’t have been pretty.
While the second-string offensive line didn’t exactly make things easy, Hooker was holding onto the ball too long and looked rusty. For a team hoping to build a reliable depth chart behind Jared Goff, that’s not a great sign.
There’s already chatter about whether the Lions should explore external options. CBS Sports floated the idea of Detroit being a fit for Will Levis, especially with the Titans drafting Cam Ward No. 1 overall. Tennessee could save cap space by moving Levis post-June 1 — and if his future there is shaky, Detroit might at least make the call.
If not Levis, maybe the Browns could be a trade partner. With five quarterbacks battling for spots in Cleveland — including Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders — there’s a good chance someone becomes expendable. If Pickett or Flacco are cut loose, Lions GM Brad Holmes might be wise to scoop one of them up.
Goff has been a model of durability, but the Lions can’t afford to gamble on that holding up all year. Even if they just need a backup for a couple quarters here or there, right now that Plan B doesn’t look ready.
Detroit still has time to let the Hooker-Allen competition play out, but if OTA performance is any indication, this might end like it did in 2022 — with both backups on the outside looking in.
