We’re calling it, Kyle Allen won the Lions QB2 job against the Falcons, Hendon Hooker’s seat is very hot
When the Detroit Lions signed Kyle Allen in March, pretty much everyone thought he was going to come in and be the next Nate Sudfeld, who would just push former third-round pick Hendon Hooker a little before Hooker took the QB2 job going away. Since training camp started, that is not what it’s looked like. […]
When the Detroit Lions signed Kyle Allen in March, pretty much everyone thought he was going to come in and be the next Nate Sudfeld, who would just push former third-round pick Hendon Hooker a little before Hooker took the QB2 job going away.
Since training camp started, that is not what it’s looked like. Allen immediately started taking second-team reps over Hooker, and he’s looked good while taking them. The big thing everyone has noticed is just how much calmer he is under center and how he just wasn’t making any mistakes. Hooker, on the other hand, has looked better, but you’re still seeing the same mental woes that have been hurting them since he came into the NFL.
Allen went into the Hall of Fame game as the starter, and yeah, he threw two interceptions and that really overshadowed the good things he did in that game. As for Hooker, he might have had a worse night, putting up just 14 passing yards and a pick.
The hope was that Hooker was maybe struggling because he was out there with the third team, and maybe those guys just couldn’t get open. He got the start on Friday night and walked out with 38 passing yards and two fumbles. He also walked out early because he was pulled at the end of the second quarter after he was expected to play the entire first half. Allen came in and hit a 68-yard bomb and a nice fade to TeSlaa in the end zone. That might have been it for the battle right there. It was going poorly enough that it felt like the first guy to do something good would get the opportunity.
This might spell the beginning of the end for Hooker, who’s kind of had everything going against him from the jump in Detroit. He was drafted at 25 years old, and it’s been clear that he was never going to be the successor to Goff since he’ll be in his 30s when Goff’s deal ends. Then he missed his first season for the most part. In Year 2, he got some preseason reps in, but nothing that stood out. That was to be expected since it was his first training camp and first preseason.
He showed that he had some mental woes with timing. He would hold onto the ball too long and get sacked or check down, and then overcorrect and get rid of the ball so fast he’d throw a pick. Then, when he would get shots to play in the regular season, the Lions purposely didn’t let him throw the ball. At the end of the year, the Lions chose to go with Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement over Hooker in the playoffs. That was a bad sign.
This summer, it’s been more of the same things. Timing and communication issues. If Hooker was 22 when the Lions drafted him, this wouldn’t be a problem, right? You could chalk it up to him being a younger player and keep spending time with him. You don’t expect him to take over for Goff till he’s 25-26 anyway. But Hooker is going to be 28 this season. How much longer can the Lions wait?
The answer is that they might not. They might just choose to go with Goff and Allen and cut Hooker. Maybe he gets a shot on the practice squad if he clears waivers. We’re not guaranteeing this move. It’s not too late to show something. There’s nearly a month left of camp and two preseason games. Show something.
