Jared Goff has been Mr. Reliable for the Detroit Lions, starting all 17 games for three straight seasons. But with the unpredictable nature of the NFL, the team is putting serious focus on finding a backup quarterback they can trust if Goff ever misses time.
That’s where Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen come in.
Head coach Dan Campbell made it clear this week: there’s no predetermined QB2. Hooker and Allen will go head-to-head this offseason to earn the job, and Campbell believes that kind of competition brings out the best in players.
“You can say all the right things to encourage a guy,” Campbell said, “but eventually, it’s you or him. You’ve got to go compete.”
The Lions front office shares that mindset. General manager Brad Holmes said they’re excited about Hooker’s development, but rather than hand him the backup job, they want to see him prove he’s ready for it.
Fans can expect a close look at both quarterbacks during the preseason, especially with Goff expected to play little or not at all. For Detroit, this backup battle could be one of the most important storylines to watch as the team looks to build on its NFC North dominance.
