Detroit Lions third-round pick Hendon Hooker isn’t letting his injury get in the way of his improvement during rookie minicamp.

The rookie signal caller out of Tennessee tore his ACL in a November showdown against South Carolina. Widely considered to be a legitimate Heisman candidate prior to his injury, Hooker’s season and draft stock took a major hit.

First look at Hendon Hooker in a Lions uniform ? pic.twitter.com/ktbD8fHlzU

— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) May 11, 2023

Luckily for Detroit, the 25-year-old quarterback fell right into their laps with the 68^th overall pick in the draft. Though he isn’t expected to be fully cleared until the backend of training camp, Hooker is making sure to sharpen his game from a mental standpoint at rookie minicamp.

"Entering this first year is the same motto, same mentality I've had all my life, let's get better every day," Hooker said after Saturday’s practice. "You'll never stay the same; you either get better or you get worse, and I don't wanna have any decline in my game so I'm continuing to work my tail off, day-to-day, mental reps, taking reps behind the quarterbacks that are in and just playing the game in my mind until I can actually get out there, but I'm still preparing and I'm hungry. I'm ready to compete."

Although HC Dan Campbell called this a “redshirt” year for #Lions rookie Hendon Hooker, he says he’s “still preparing and I’m hungry. I’m ready to compete.” Hooker still wouldn’t put a timetable on his return, but says he's ahead of schedule. “I’m taking it day-by-day." pic.twitter.com/FMwXIFG7Xb

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) May 13, 2023

It’s important to note that the Lions are comfortable taking things slow with Hooker. And they should be, especially after a tremendous 2022 campaign from the starter Jared Goff.

Head coach Dan Campbell recently called 2023 a “redshirt year” for Hooker on the “Green Light with Chris Long,” podcast. This alleviates any pressure that Hooker might feel like he’s facing while he inevitably enters the regular season a touch behind the eight ball.

"Honestly, I would like to be ready tomorrow, if I could. But, I'm taking it day by day," Hooker said. "When my leg is 100 percent healed and everything else is moving fluently, and working together, I'll be ready to go."