Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker made his return to the football field for the first time since 2022, when he played for the Tennessee Volunteers and tore his ACL. Hooker took the field in the second half against the New York Giants, but Detroit fell to New York 14-3.
While the score wasn’t the main focus, Hooker’s return to live-game action was significant. Unfortunately, he suffered a concussion during the game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra that Hooker is now in concussion protocol and will be evaluated. Campbell mentioned, “He got his bell rung, so that’s what that was. We would have loved to have had more time with him, but it’s one of those things that happens.”
Hooker showed some promise during his second-half performance against the Giants, including a notable run, but his return was overshadowed by the injury.
Hendon Hooker completed 5-of-9 passes for 36 yards and added 34 rushing yards on four carries for the Lions.
Preseason always brings its share of overreactions, and this year is no different for the Detroit Lions. Many Lions fans are already calling for Hendon Hooker to be the backup quarterback to Jared Goff, instead of Nate Sudfeld. Here’s what some of Detroit’s fans had to say:
There’s no doubt that the Detroit Lions fanbase is united in their support for Hendon Hooker over Nate Sudfeld. Although Sudfeld is currently listed as the backup quarterback on the depth chart, Hooker’s recent performance has fans clamoring for a change. However, Hooker is now sidelined with a concussion, and it remains to be seen how long his recovery will take.
In the Lions’ preseason game against the New York Giants, Sudfeld completed 13-of-24 passes for 96 yards and threw one interception—a less than stellar outing that left fans unimpressed. In contrast, the fanbase saw more potential in Hooker, who brought more energy to the field.
The Lions have two more preseason games before the 2024 season begins, and Hooker, a third-round pick (68th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, still has a chance to secure his spot on the 53-man roster. If he does, it would be a great story for him to become Jared Goff’s backup, providing the team with a reliable option behind their starting quarterback.
