Hendon Hooker shook off a a year of rust this week to practice for the first time with the Lions. And he’s impressing the folks he needs to impress.
Hooker is the former Tennessee Volunteer quarterback who was at the top of his game in November, 2022. There was talk of a Heisman, with Hooker considered a potential first-round NFL draft pick for April, 2023. But that all ended on an afternoon in South Carolina when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The Lions used a third-round pick to bring Hooker to Detroit, although coach Dan Campbell knew the quarterback still was in the midst of rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee. And now, the Lions finally have a chance to see what sort of quarterback they have.
Campbell told reporters Friday that Hooker has been terrific this week in workouts. The Lions opened the 21-day window for Hooker to come off injured reserve, allowing him to practice with his teammates for the first time.
“It’s good to get him out there,” Campbell said of the rookie. “I know he’s excited to feel like he’s now part of the team. From his perspective, it’s hard when you’re limited to, ‘I’m in meetings and that’s about it, then I go and rehab.’ So I know he’s excited to be out there, and we’re just in the beginning stages of it.
“You can see, just when he throws the ball, why we acquired him. He’s got a poise about him and he’s got a really smooth delivery. Tight spiral. But he’s just starting. He’s just starting. It’s good to get him out there.”
Here’s some video of Hooker’s first official workout with the Lions:
It’s doubtful that the Lions will use Hooker this season, although some fans, at least currently, would prefer a quarterback besides Jared Goff. In the past two games, Goff has turned the ball over six times. The miscues especially hurt in a home upset to the Packers on Thanksgiving.
But maybe it’s not a stretch to envision Hooker getting time. After all, rookie quarterbacks already are starting everywhere else. There have been 10 to start games this year, with CJ Stroud thriving the most. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for November.
Reports out of Detroit suggest that Hooker has been healthy and ready to practice for awhile. But the Lions wanted to be careful with him. The team travels to New Orleans to take on the Saints this Sunday. Goff’s backups are healthy. Teddy Bridgewater, an NFL journeyman, is QB2. Meanwhile, Then David Blough, who has been in the NFL since 2019, is the quarterback on the practice squad. The Lions signed him in late August for his second stint in Detroit.
Hooker can practice the entire 21 days. But if the Lions don’t activate him to the 53-man roster, he’ll stay on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
Hooker says he’s loving it all. He told reporters he “was too excited,” during his first day back.
“Just trying to calm myself. Everybody around me was very excited, so I was just trying to be the calming piece.”
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