Lions reporter makes confident statement about Hendon Hooker
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it clear earlier this spring that the 2023 season is going to be a "redshirt year" for rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker. Hooker, a former Tennessee Vols standout who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Lions, is recovering from a torn ACL […]
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it clear earlier this spring that the 2023 season is going to be a "redshirt year" for rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Hooker, a former Tennessee Vols standout who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Lions, is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last November.
The Greensboro, NC native is progressing well in his recovery, but the Lions aren't in a hurry to push him.
For now, Nate Sudfeld is operating as the Lions' primary backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff.
Sudfeld, however, hasn't looked great so far during OTAs. And at least one Lions writer believes Hooker will quickly take over the primary backup quarterback spot as soon as he's physically able to compete head-to-head with Sudfeld.
"In our first real look at Sudfled throwing in last week’s OTA session, it wasn’t all too impressive," wrote USA TODAY's Jeff Risdon this past week.
"Hooker will be the No. 2 once he’s healthy, but that timeframe is up in the air," added Risdon
Detroit's certainly in a tough spot when it comes to backup quarterbacks. It doesn't sound like Sudfeld is an ideal No. 2 option. But it could be tough to add another quarterback to the roster considering everyone knows that the plan is for Hooker to eventually be Goff's top backup (and possibly challenge for the starting job).
Hooker is going to push hard to pass Sudfeld on the depth chart. The former Tennessee standout operates with a sense of urgency and he's not going to use his ACL recovery as an excuse to take it easy for a season. Instead, Hooker is working every day — in some form or fashion — to climb his way up the depth chart in Detroit. And it sounds like that's exactly what folks are expecting to happen in the not-so-distant future.
Featured image via Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
