Lions to release QB Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld, who has not seen game action since the 2020 regular season, missed all of last season due to injury but had impressed in training camp. He will pass straight to free agency.

Considering Sudfeld has not played since the 2020 season and missed all of last year, it also is conceivable he will not generate much interest. The Lions may well have the opportunity to stash the veteran on their practice squad. The team also has offseason pickup Jake Fromm as a P-squad option. But this will move Hooker up the depth chart.

It has long been expected Hooker would eventually be Jared Goff‘s backup, but Campbell’s comments poured some cold water on the 2023 third-rounder’s progress. Detroit effectively redshirted Hooker last season after a November 2022 ACL tear hurt his draft stock.

The Lions could also move Sudfeld back to their active roster after other roster moves commence, but since the NFL has provided more IR flexibility this year, fewer post-cutdown-day IR moves figure to occur. As it stands, Sudfeld is off Detroit’s roster for the time being. It would stand to reason he or Fromm will be the team’s de facto QB3. Monday’s news regarding the NFLPA nixing the league’s move to give teams QB flexibility has not moved the Lions to keep three passers.