Lions head coach gives update on former Vols QB Hendon Hooker's progress in training camp
We haven't heard much about former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker — a third round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft — during the first week of NFL training camp. But that's mostly because Hooker was placed on the active/non-football injury list (due to the torn ACL he suffered last November) […]
We haven't heard much about former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker — a third round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft — during the first week of NFL training camp.
But that's mostly because Hooker was placed on the active/non-football injury list (due to the torn ACL he suffered last November) ahead of the start of training camp.
Hooker, however, is still putting in work despite being on the NFI list.
On Sunday morning, Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Hooker and the work he's putting in despite being limited this summer.
And Campbell had nothing but positive things to say about the former Tennessee standout.
"He's in all the meetings that the rest of the guys are," explained Campbell. "And then we've got him doing — certainly can't be with the coaches — but we've got him doing a workout — it's around every other day — to see how that knee responds post practice. And we've got our training staff [and] our strength coaches that are taking him through a workout — it's really scripted. And so it's our plays, it's our reads, and so he goes through the drops, makes the play call, goes through the drops, throws and then has to sprint and he takes it down the field and he goes to the next play. And we'll go through a 30-play script."
"And we just continue to build as he gets his conditioning up and and the knee gets stronger," added Campbell. "So that's as good as we can do right now. And then, there again, he's in the meetings. He's being quizzed. And so I think we're doing about all we can do with him. And he's doing good. To answer your question, he's doing good. There's no setbacks."
Tennessee fans know as well as anyone that Hooker is eager to hit the field and compete for the starting job in Detroit — the Greensboro, NC native is a true competitor that badly wants to prove that he should've been a first-round selection in the draft.
The Lions, however, are being smart with Hooker. They know he has the potential to be a key player for them in the future. And they're not trying to rush him into a role that he's not quite ready for yet — mentally or physically.
Hooker may not like having to be patient, but it's the best approach for the Lions to take with the former Vol.
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Featured image via Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
