The Detroit Lions are locked and loaded for the 2025 season—except for one glaring question mark: who’s really backing up Jared Goff?
Sure, the Lions have Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen, but last year’s playoffs told the story. The team trusted a just-out-of-retirement Teddy Bridgewater over either of them when Goff looked hurt. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence.
With quarterback injuries derailing seasons across the league in recent years, Detroit would be smart to bolster the QB room now—and there’s a perfect option sitting right in their backyard.
Enter Bryce Perkins, the UFL’s 2025 Most Valuable Player. Fresh off leading the Michigan Panthers, Perkins showcased his dual-threat talent by completing 69% of his passes for 1,342 yards and 9 touchdowns, while adding 5 scores on the ground—even after missing three games to injury.
Perkins isn’t just a UFL standout; he’s a former Ram who was on the roster for their 2021 Super Bowl run, and he already knows Ford Field well. The Lions recently struck gold signing former UFL kicker Jake Bates, who helped clinch a win against the Texans with clutch kicks. So why not try the same formula with a quarterback?
Signing Perkins would give Detroit a low-risk, high-upside insurance policy behind Goff, one who brings mobility, recent game reps, and a champion’s mindset—all at a bargain price.
If Detroit wants to sleep easier about their QB depth, this could be the move to make.
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The Perfect Backup? Lions Urged to Sign UFL MVP Bryce Perkins
