It's becoming hard to ignore the writing on the wall for Lions' QB2 competition

It sure seems like the Detroit Lions have found their QB2 behind Jared Goff after a third week of preseason football: Kyle Allen. After a wonderful first half performance against the Miami Dolphins where he had zero turnovers and two scores, it was obvious that he had just moved up the depth chart ahead of Detroit's official 53-man roster being released.

This puts Hendon Hooker, the Lions' third round pick from 2023, in a tough spot. The third year quarterback is still getting a shot at becoming Goff's backup over this next coming week of training camp and in the Lions' final preseason game of the year, but he'd have to be miraculously great in order to surpass Allen's performances from the last two weeks.

Allen looks primed to become Goff's QB2

Life in the NFL is never guaranteed, and a backup quarterback knows that better than anyone on a roster. Right now for the Detroit Lions, Kyle Allen is going into his 8th NFL season and looks primed to be sticking around in a meaningful way with Detroit for another year.

For so many like Allen, a backup quarterback's NFL lifespan is filled with so many ups and downs that the ability to stay focused, motivated, and ready is what allows players like Matt Cassel, Chase Daniel, and Teddy Bridgewater all extremely lengthy and profitable careers.

However, after Allen's first preseason game in 2025, his future with the team was in doubt for a moment.

The last two weeks have changed Allen's outlook with the Lions and his NFL future. He has put together two consecutive games of over 80% completion percentage, 120 passing yards, and two passing touchdowns, while Hendon Hooker has regressed, still looking for his first passing touchdown.

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While Allen has continued to pull ahead of Hooker, it doesn't seem likely that head coach Dan Campbell is giving up on their 2023 draft pick. Campbell did state that he'd "trust Kyle Allen more as the backup if they had to choose right now," but the team will continue to allow Hooker the opportunity to get coached up in training camp.

Both Hooker and Allen are relatively inexpensive options at the position and the Lions have stayed true to having only 3 QBs on the roster after releasing Jake Fromm in April. Allen is set to earn $1.2 million dollars this year, while Hooker should earn roughly the same amount, with a year remaining on his rookie deal.

With Hooker underwhelming (especially in the Lions' last game, throwing a game sealing interception), he may be running out of chances to prove that he can be a serviceable quarterback to compliment Jared Goff. A true indictment on Hooker could have been last season when the Lions brought back Teddy Bridgewater who was spending the majority of the fall coaching high school football.

With Allen looking like he's solidified his QB2 position, Hooker will have one more opportunity to showcase his skillset against the Houston Texans next week. Hooker is not only playing for an opportunity to push Allen as Goff's backup, but also increase the likelihood of him earning an extension and another year in the NFL next season.

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