Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker was rumored to be a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in the middle of his stellar final season at Tennessee in 2022. However, he suffered a late-season ACL tear and was ultimately a third-round selection by Detroit. Teddy Bridgewater was Jared Goff's primary backup last season, while Hooker spent most of his debut campaign on the Injured Reserve list. With Bridgewater announcing his retirement this offseason, the 26-year-old is set to move into the QB2 role in 2024. So far at OTAs, the reviews have been promising. "It was fun watching Hendon Hooker sling it in a team setting for the very first time," Colton Pouncy of The Athletic wrote. "Really nice touch on his deep ball. Good velocity. One of his best plays of the day was a deep ball down the right sideline to Daurice Fountain, which drew "oooohs" and "aaahhs" from the team." After Goff signed a four-year extension to remain with the organization, Hooker's narrow path to the starting job closed. However, he can be stashed in deep Superflex or two-QB leagues. If Goff had to miss any time due to injury, the 26-year-old sophomore would have intriguing upside thanks to his rushing ability and pass-catching group headlined by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta.
The Detroit Lions waived kicker Riley Patterson on Tuesday and activated rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) from the Non-Football Injury list in a corresponding move. The writing was on the wall for Patterson when Michael Badgley was active over him in Saturday's win over the Denver Broncos. The 24-year-old wasn't bad in 13 games for Detroit in 2023, going 15-for-17 on his field-goal tries while missing two of his 37 extra-point attempts. The 25-year-old Hooker could be the quarterback of the future in Detroit, but his first year in the NFL was always expected to be more of a medical redshirt year while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in November of 2022. For the rest of this season, he'll practice with the team and try to learn behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater.
The Detroit Lions opened the 21-day practice window for rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) on Wednesday, meaning the team now has 21 days to officially activate him from the Non-Football Injury list. Hooker continues to recover from a torn left ACL. The Lions opened the season believing that 2023 would basically be a medical redshirt year for the 25-year-old signal-caller from Tennessee. Hooker can begin to practice with the team this week, but it's still probably unlikely that he's actually activated to the active 53-man roster to close out the regular season. Jared Goff will remain Detroit's starter under center as long as he's healthy, and he's being backed up by veteran Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Martinez.
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) could begin practicing this week. Head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions could activate Hooker from the NFI (Non-football injury and non-football illness) list this week, meaning he'd be eligible to take the field. Hooker has been recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in late November of the 2022 college football season. The Tennessee product isn't likely to see playing time this year, but he could push veteran Teddy Bridgewater for the No. 2 quarterback job. This offseason, Campbell said Hooker is likely to have a "redshirt" year in 2023, so he will not be a factor in fantasy football unless Goff and Bridgewater get injured.
Detroit Lions rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) will start his first NFL season in 2023 on the Non-Football Injury list, according to a source. Hooker continues to recover from an ACL tear he suffered in college, and the Lions will continue to take it slow with their No. 68 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. This move was expected since the day the Lions took the 25-year-old in the draft. He'll be forced to sit out the first four games of the season, but Hooker is fully expected to have a redshirt year in 2023. Nate Sudfeld tore his ACL in the preseason finale on Friday, so the Lions will most likely look to add another veteran signal-caller behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater before the start of the regular season.
The Detroit Lions placed rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee), tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (undisclosed) and defensive lineman Zach Morton (undisclosed) on the Non-Football Injury list on Thursday. Hooker tore his ACL in college last November, and his rookie season in the NFL is expected to be more of a redshirt year, so it's not a surprise that he'll open training camp on the NFI list. The 25-year-old would have to miss the first four games of the regular season if he stays on the NFI list once Week 1 kicks off, and he'll eventually be in a backup role behind Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld. In the long term, Hooker figures to be the Lions' QB of the future, so he's still worth drafting and stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Detroit Lions rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee), who was taken in the third round of this year's NFL draft, said his rehab is "progressing really well." Hooker wasn't fully cleared for the team's organized team activities in May and June after suffering a torn ACL in his final collegiate game on Nov. 19 of last year. "I'm really just taking it day-by-day and continuing to build my body back up to where I want it to be and even better," Hooker said. The 25-year-old threw 58 TDs and only five interceptions in two years at Tennessee and broke Peyton Manning's school records for completion percentage and passing efficiency. Hooker may be the future under center in Detroit, but he's headed for a redshirt year in his rookie campaign behind starter Jared Goff as he continues to recover from his torn ACL.
Hendon Hooker Not Expected To Open Season On The Roster
Detroit Lions rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) looks to have made good progress in his recovery from knee surgery, but it's still unlikely that he begins the regular season on the active roster. Instead, he's projected to start on the Non-Football Injury list, which will open up a roster spot elsewhere while also buying more recovery time for Hooker. Jared Goff will be the starter, while Nate Sudfeld's growing mastery of the offense helps facilitate stashing Hooker instead of rushing him onto the field at less than 100 percent health. Hooker will be nothing more than a speculative dynasty/keeper-league stash in fantasy leagues in the fall.
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) still isn't ready to get on the practice field as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. The rookie quarterback says that he's doing good and taking it day-by-day. He mentioned that he has become a lot stronger physically and mentally because of this process. Hooker can't get on the field, but that hasn't stopped him from watching, learning, asking questions. The expectation is that Hooker is going to sit out the entire 2023 season. The Lions appear to be committed to Jared Goff, so Hooker will sit behind him and learn.
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker is probably looking at a redshirt rookie year, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Hooker is still rehabbing a torn ACL and the Lions appear to be committed to Jared Goff as their starter in the near future. Hooker could be a long-term answer at the quarterback position for the Lions but he is unlikely to make an impact in 2023. He remains a stash in Superflex dynasty formats.
