By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions received a positive update on quarterback Hendon Hooker’s injury recovery and made a move to strengthen their roster by signing cornerback Javelin Guidry on August 14. Hooker, the former third-round pick in 2023, was initially seen as a potential future successor to Jared Goff. However, Hooker now finds himself in a battle for a spot on the Lions’ depth chart.
Hooker was drafted by the Lions with the 68th overall pick despite coming off a torn ACL that had ended his final season at Tennessee early. The team considered him a long-term project, and while Hooker showed flashes of potential during his first year in Detroit, he struggled to secure the No. 2 quarterback spot. With an open competition ahead, Hooker will need to prove himself in training camp this summer.
A Battle for the Backup Spot
At a recent league meeting, Lions general manager Brad Holmes laid out the team’s plan for the quarterback position. Holmes confirmed that Hooker would face competition from veteran Kyle Allen for the backup role behind Goff.
“We like Hendon,” Holmes said, as reported by USA Today’s Lions Wire. “He had the injury that first year, then last year was really the first time he was able to have a full training camp and season. We brought in Teddy Bridgewater because we were gearing up for the playoffs, and Hooker just wasn’t quite ready yet. He understood that.”
This offseason, the Lions signed Allen to a one-year, $1.27 million deal, signaling their intent to create a more competitive atmosphere in the quarterback room.
Holmes emphasized that while the team still holds Hooker in high regard, they are not prepared to hand him the backup role without a fight. “We still have high hopes for [Hooker], but nobody’s going to be given a job either,” Holmes stated. “If Hendon wants to be the number two quarterback, he’ll have to earn it.”
At one point, Hooker was considered a possible successor to Goff, but with Goff’s strong performances over the last two seasons, those plans have become less certain. Goff led the Lions to two straight NFC North titles in 2023 and 2024, proving that the team has confidence in his ability to lead the offense. During this time, Hooker showed promise, but the team opted to bring in veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to serve as the No. 2 quarterback during the playoffs against the Washington Commanders.
Goff’s Leadership Role
While the backup quarterback spot is up for grabs, there is no question about Goff’s standing with the Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell recently praised Goff, acknowledging the growth he’s shown since arriving in Detroit. After completing a career-high 72.4% of his passes last season, Campbell expects Goff to take on an even bigger leadership role in 2025.
“Jared continues to grow every year,” Campbell said, via MLive.com. “I’d say the next step for him is to take even more control of the offense. Last year, he did everything we asked him to do. And then he started to take ownership of it, bringing us ideas and adjustments. He’s now looking at things from a deeper perspective, and it’s exciting to see. We expect him to take that next step this season.”
The Lions are counting on Goff to continue his impressive development and help guide the team as they aim for even greater success in 2025. Meanwhile, Hooker will face a pivotal summer as he competes for a backup role that could shape his future with the team.