Lions' most notable roster battle is finally decided after preseason finale

Detroit Lions backup quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker have been duking it out all preseason long, vying for the role of direct backup to Jared Goff.

While Hooker might have entered camp with the edge - having been with the team since being drafted back in 2023 - Allen has finished camp and the preseason as the clear and away QB2 the Lions need to enter this season. And, Hooker finished his preseason looking like an unfortunately perfect cut candidate for the Lions ahead of Tuesday's roster deadline.

Hooker finished up the Lions' preseason with no touchdowns, three interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 36.1. Allen, on the other hand, finished up with five touchdowns, two interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 123.6. Those two picks also came in Detroit's Hall of Fame game, a contest that both backups struggled in.

Allen, though, bounced back nicely from that outing. Hooker never did. And now, the job seems firmly in Allen's hands.

Hooker set to miss out on QB2 role

The Lions are not the Cleveland Browns. They're not carrying four quarterbacks into a regular season because they're just that lost about who could end up becoming their future franchise quarterback. They're likely to not even carry three into the season for the same reason.

This is a contending team and roster, with hopes of finally making it over the hump towards a Super Bowl appearance and win. Sacrificing a roster spot elsewhere on their depth chart to keep Hooker on because the team still wants to allow him to develop under their watch would feel like malpractice on their part.

READ MORE: Lions cut multiple bubble players in final 53-man roster prediction

Hooker could also get an opportunity to be a QB2 elsewhere if released by the team this weekend or ahead of Tuesday. He's certaintly not getting that chance this season with the Lions. With a great need for more depth at injury riddled positions, like at cornerback or at the Lions' pass rush, it just feels like Hooker will be the odd man out in the quarterback room once and for all.

"That's not my regular character. There's no turnovers in practice. So, just trying to make those plays and fit things into tight windows or trying to force the ball, it's a let down. Especially knowing what I could do," said Hooker after the Lions' loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday, where he threw a pick after getting great field positioning courtesy Detroit's defense forcing a turnover on Houston.

After recent comments from head coach Dan Campbell, though, it seems like Hooker has gotten his last chance with the Lions.

Hopefully, Hooker is given the chance to develop properly and while healthy this season with a new team if Detroit does decide to let him hit the waiver wire.

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