Lions HC Dan Campbell makes strong statement about former Vols QB Hendon Hooker's progress during OTAs
The NFL offseason didn't get off to the smoothest start for former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker. For starters, Hooker, a third round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, learned earlier this month that he'll be locked into a backup role in Detroit for the next three seasons (barring injury) due […]
The NFL offseason didn't get off to the smoothest start for former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker.
For starters, Hooker, a third round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, learned earlier this month that he'll be locked into a backup role in Detroit for the next three seasons (barring injury) due to quarterback Jared Goff's lucrative contract extension.
Additionally, Hooker had an inconsistent start to OTAs according to MLive.
From MLive: Hooker didn’t do much running during the lone open practice so far, but the athleticism was apparent as he completed passes while rolling out of both sides of the pocket. He also showed understandable rust through the air, bombing one duck that fell incomplete, and another that was caught, but forced undrafted receiver Kaden Davis to pull up significantly. He was also nearly picked off by deep reserve Loren Strickland. Hooker completed 10 of 17 passes overall during team periods. The ability is there, but any young quarterback needs time to figure this stuff out.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell, however, provided a positive update on Hooker on Thursday. While speaking with reporters, Campbell noted that he saw some improvement from Hooker on Wednesday.
"I would say, yesterday was good to see," said Campbell when asked about Hooker. "There was some improvement yesterday that [we have] really been looking for. And you felt a little bit of there's some development there. That was really good to see. Just some of his reads, some of the throws he made. And look, it's hard to put a timeline on things, man, every player grows at a different level — especially at that position. The quarterback position, now, we put a lot on those guys and he's got a lot. And it's just a reminder, this is his first spring, it's the first time he's been through spring. It'll be his first training camp. And so there again, you just need to see growth. And yesterday it was good to see."
The Lions are hoping that Hooker, who will be on his rookie contract for three more seasons, can develop into a high-level backup quarterback that's also affordable.
So far, it sounds like Hooker is on the right track. And once he fully knocks the rust off (he spent most of 2023 recovering from a torn ACL), he should be able to show off the skillset that led to some teams putting a first round grade on the former Vol.
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