The Lions waived Hooker on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Hooker, a 2023 third-round pick, entered training camp in competition with Kyle Allen for the No. 2 quarterback gig behind starter Jared Goff, but he ultimately couldn't secure a spot on the 53-man roster. Coach Dan Campbell said after Saturday's 26-7 preseason loss to the Texans, in which Hooker completed six of 11 passes for 70 yards and one interception, that a "change of scenery" could benefit the young signal-caller, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Hooker now will look to secure, and make the most of, an opportunity elsewhere in the league, likely on a practice squad.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Fumbles twice in preseason start
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Hooker completed seven of 10 pass attempts for 38 yards while gaining 27 yards and losing two fumbles on three rushing attempts in Friday's preseason game against the Falcons.
Hooker got the nod under center for the Lions after struggling mightily against the Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. The 2023 third-round pick didn't fare much better against Atlanta, coughing up the football on Detroit's opening drives in the first and second quarters. Fellow backup Kyle Allen (120 yards and two touchdowns) took over in the second half and outperformed Hooker yet again, giving the veteran signal-caller an early lead in the competition to be starter Jared Goff's primary backup in 2025.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Working on details
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Lions coach Dan Campbell said Hooker knows that it's time to "take the next step" in his career.
Campbell also mentioned being impressed by Hooker's urgency and footwork at the beginning of training camp. The 27-year-old spent all of last season as Detroit's No. 2 quarterback, ultimately attempting just nine passes with Jared Goff staying healthy throughout the year. Now entering the third year of his rookie contract, Hooker will face competition from Kyle Allen this summer. There was some thought Hooker might eventually replace Goff after the Lions made him a third-round pick in 2023, but Goff has since led offenses that ranked fifth and first in points scored, earning a four-year, $212 million extension in the process. The Lions essentially are tied to Goff through 2027, one year beyond the length of Hooker's rookie contract (2023-26).
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Used sparingly in 2024
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Hooker completed six of nine passes for 62 yards while adding five carries for two yards over three games in 2024.
Hooker operated as Jared Goff's primary backup option in 2024, ultimately seeing marginal action with Goff starting all 17 regular-season contests. Hooker was demoted to the No. 3 option at quarterback when Detroit signed Teddy Bridgewater in late December after Bridgewater had previously retired prior to the year. Nonetheless, with Bridgewater entering free agency, Hooker will presumably enter the 2025 campaign as Goff's top backup.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Demoted for playoffs
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Hooker (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Commanders, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Hooker operated as the backup to Jared Goff for the entire season, though he'll serve as the emergency quarterback in the Lions' playoff opener. Teddy Bridgewater has taken over as second on the depth chart.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Uneven final preseason game
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Hooker completed 12 of 20 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Saturday's 24-17 preseason win over the Steelers.
Hooker drew the start, with neither Jared Goff nor Nate Sudfeld in action. Hooker unsurprisingly struggled in the early series during which the Steelers played some of their starters, but he did rebound to lead a 12-play, 72-yard touchdown drive just before halftime, which concluded with a two-yard touchdown pass. Hooker looks to have the third quarterback position in his grasp heading into the regular season.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Should start Saturday
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Head coach Dan Campbell stated Tuesday that he'd like Hooker to start Saturday against the Steelers, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Hooker is currently in a battle with Nate Sufeld for the backup quarterback job behind Jared Goff. The second-year pro was arguably the better performer in the Lions' win over the Chiefs last Saturday, completing 12 of 15 passes for 150 yards while he also rushed for a touchdown.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Trending toward playing Saturday
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Hooker (concussion) has "a good chance to play" in Saturday's preseason contest against the Chiefs, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Hooker suffered a concussion during Detroit's preseason opener, but he looks to be on track for a return during the team's second exhibition contest. The 2023 third-round pick, who didn't log any game reps as a rookie, completed five of nine pass attempts for 39 yards versus the Giants last week. He also rushed four times for 39 yards but suffered the head injury due to a hit while scrambling. Nate Sudfeld started versus New York and appears to be in the lead for the backup spot behind Jared Goff, but Hooker still has time to impress before Detroit's regular-season opener against the Rams on Sept. 8.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: No game reps as rookie
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Hooker did not appear in a game during the 2023 season.
Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker had a slow start to his professional career while rebounding from a torn ACL from November 2022, when he was a Heisman Trophy candidate at Tennessee. While he did not appear in a game as a rookie, Hooker did serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback for the final three regular-season games and each of Detroit's playoff contests. With Teddy Bridgewater set to retire this offseason, the path is wide open for Hooker to open the 2024 campaign as Detroit's backup quarterback behind Jared Goff.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Emergency QB for NFC Championship
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Hooker (mouth) is inactive for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the 49ers but will serve as the emergency third quarterback, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Hooker was added to the Lions' injury report Friday after not participating in practice due to a tooth issue. Like he's done since he was cleared for his first action as a pro Week 16, Hooker is available Sunday if both Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater leave the game and cannot return.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Emergency option
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Hooker (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings, but will be available as an emergency option at quarterback.
Hooker will only see the field if both Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater sustain injuries. He has not played in any game this season.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Inactive for Saturday night
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Hooker (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday night's game against the Cowboys.
Hooked was activated from the NFI list ahead of Week 16 but will be inactive for the second straight week. He's only available as the emergency third quarterback behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Serving as No. 3 QB
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Hooker (coach's decision) is inactive ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings.
The rookie quarterback out of Tennessee was activated from the Lions' reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday, but it still seems as if he's behind both Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater on the team's depth chart. Hooker will serve as Detroit's emergency option at QB in Week 16.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Remains out
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Hooker (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears.
Hooker is still on Detroit's reserve/non-football injury list, and he'll remain out through Week 14. Once the 2023 third-round pick returns to the field, he could challenge Teddy Bridgewater for the Lions' backup quarterback role.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Manages full practice Thursday
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Hooker (knee) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
For the first time in his young NFL career, Hooker finally appears to be near full strength ahead of Week 13. Jared Goff seems to have the starting role under firm control despite cooling off after last season, and Teddy Bridgewater profiles as a capable backup, so it would still be surprising to see Hooker check in at any point this year except possibly to put a bow on a blowout.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Cleared to practice
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Detroit designated Hooker (knee) to return from the reserve/non-football injury list Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
The rookie quarterback is now eligible to practice, with the Lions having a 21-day window to place him on the active roster before he defaults back to the NFI list for the remainder of the season. Hooker suffered an ACL tear last November during his final collegiate season at Tennessee, which resulted in him dropping out of the first-round discussion before the Lions selected him early in the third round at No. 68 overall. He isn't likely to play this season given that Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater both are healthy, but the Lions are keeping the door open for Hooker to return to the roster if his knee responds well to practice activity.
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Lions' Hendon Hooker: Headed for redshirt year
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Head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast that he doesn't anticipate Hooker (knee) playing during his rookie season. "Really, this is a redshirt year for him," Campbell said. "He's got to get this leg right first and then he'll learn under Jared [Goff], and then let's see what happens. If he can eventually become your two or maybe down the road, later on, it's more than that, but it's going to be a long time."
The main question within the Lions quarterback room regards the future of Goff, whose release after the upcoming season would only cost Detroit $5 million in dead money. After that comes Hooker's acclimation to the NFL, as the Tennessee product who tore the ACL in his left knee last November remains without a clear timeline to resume full activities. Should Hooker miss most or all of the offseason, it seems unrealistic to think he could give the Lions much of a reason to move off of Goff in 2024 without having much practice time under his belt.
