Hendon Hooker Might Just Be Making a Comeback — and the Timing Couldn’t Be Better for the Lions
Let’s be real — a year ago, Hendon Hooker’s future with the Detroit Lions looked messy. Drafting an older QB coming off a torn ACL, straight out of a super simple college offense? That felt like a gamble with long odds. Add in the fact that Jared Goff is firmly locked in as the starter, and Hooker’s path to the field seemed… nonexistent.
Things didn’t get better when the Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater late last season and then bumped him ahead of Hooker as the backup during the playoffs. That move basically buried any trade value Hooker might’ve had. A few teams were rumored to be “interested,” but nothing real came of it.
Fast forward to now: Hooker’s got a clean bill of health, a full offseason under his belt, and a golden opportunity to prove himself. He’s currently battling it out with veteran Kyle Allen for the backup QB job behind Goff, and it feels like this is a make-or-break moment. If he can’t beat out Allen, what’s the point of keeping him at QB3?
But here’s where it gets spicy: Hooker’s been turning heads at training camp. In fact, he reportedly dropped a bomb — an 82-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tom Kennedy that had people buzzing. Not bad for someone taking third-team reps just weeks ago.
Preseason is going to be the real test, though. The Lions kick things off against the Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, and from there, it’s go time. Hooker has a chance not just to claim the No. 2 spot, but maybe even to put himself back on the trade radar.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks a couple teams should already be checking in on him — namely the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
Here’s the breakdown:
* The Bears: They’ve got Ben Johnson, the Lions’ former offensive coordinator, now running the show. Hooker’s athleticism might be a better backup fit behind Caleb Williams than Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum. Oh, and three of Johnson’s assistants also came from Detroit — so Hooker wouldn’t be starting from scratch.
* The Jets: They’ve got Aaron Glenn (yep, another Lions connection) as head coach. With Justin Fields recovering from a toe injury and Tyrod Taylor as the current backup, the Jets might want a little extra dual-threat depth in the room. Hooker could be a nice insurance policy.
At the end of the day, Hooker’s time in Detroit might not be long-term. He’s already 27 — not exactly your QB of the future — and the Lions clearly see Goff as their guy for now. But if Hooker balls out this preseason, he might not just win the backup job… he could become a real asset on the trade market.
For both him and the Lions, it’s a win-win situation if he shows out. All eyes on No. 12 — this is his moment.
