The Detroit Lions may have gotten a huge steal when they picked quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round of the NFL Draft. Projected by some as a first-round pick, Hooker fell all the way to the Lions in the third. One reason may be that he is still recovering from an ACL injury. His recovery seems to be going well and there was talk that Hooker could be on the active roster in week 1. Amid all of the roster movement, the Lions have made a decision on what to do with the rookie quarterback.
Detroit Lions Hendon Hooker
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Lions plan on keeping Hooker on the Non-Football Injury list. The Lions do not need to rush Hooker back. Jared Goff has the offense under control and this gives the team time to get Hooker up to speed. The hope is that with the pre-planned workouts, Hooker can become a quarterback of the future. Reports indicate that the Lions do plan on activating him to the active roster at some point this season but it remains to be seen when.
High Expectations In Detroit
I do not remember a season where this many people were so bullish on the Lions. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of the best in the league and the real questions are on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions could not stop anyone last season so while the offense was productive, it didn’t translate into a lot of wins. GM Brad Holmes upgraded many positions in free agency and the hope is that these work out for the better. If the team cannot stop anyone, 2023 may look the same as 2022.
Will we see Hendon Hooker sooner rather than later? The fact that the Detroit Lions want him on the active roster at some point this season may indicate that they want to get him some reps if possible.
More must-reads: