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Former Tennessee Vols QB Hendon Hooker's situation with the Detroit Lions just got even worse

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Mar 14, 2025 12:06 PM ET

Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker probably isn't feeling great about his future with the Detroit Lions right now.

Hooker, a third round selection by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, was demoted during the playoffs last season to the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart for Detroit.

The Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement near the end of the 2024 season to serve as the primary backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff in the playoffs.

Detroit's decision to demote Hooker late last season seemed to indicate that the Lions aren't very high on the former Vol.

And Detroit's decision on Thursday to sign free agent quarterback Kyle Allen just further adds to the speculation that the Lions aren't all-in on Hooker as their primary backup quarterback.

The #Lions have agreed to terms with veteran QB Kyle Allen, source says. Following a season with the #Steelers, Allen joins Detroit’s quarterback room behind Jared Goff. pic.twitter.com/iEsgranSxY
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2025

Allen, who is just two years older than Hooker, has been in the NFL since 2018.

The former Houston/Texas A&M quarterback has played in 31 career games with 19 starts. Allen's best season came in 2019 when he passed for 3,322 yards and 17 touchdowns while playing in 13 games for the Carolina Panthers.

It seems unlikely that Detroit signed Allen to be the No. 3 quarterback. Maybe there's a legit competition this summer for the primary backup job, but even if there is, this move seems to further confirm that the Lions aren't high on Hooker.

The best case scenario for Hooker would be for Detroit to trade him to a franchise where he can earn the primary backup job. The Lions, however, aren't in a position where they need to be in a hurry to trade Hooker. If a trade involving Hooker does end up happening, it probably won't happen until closer to the start of the 2025 season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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