Advertisement
The Detroit Lions are shaking things up at quarterback for their next preseason game. Head coach Dan Campbell has confirmed that Hendon Hooker will start against the Atlanta Falcons on August 8. This decision comes after both Hooker and Kyle Allen underperformed in their first preseason outing against the Los Angeles Chargers.
In that game, Allen got the start but failed to make a strong impression. Hooker only got six passing attempts and completed three of them for just 18 yards. He also threw an interception, though it came late when the game was already out of reach. Despite the rough numbers, the Lions still see potential in Hooker and are giving him a bigger shot this time.
Hooker, who played college football at Tennessee, was taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He hasn’t done much yet in the league, partly due to limited chances. Now, this upcoming game against Atlanta gives him a real opportunity to prove he deserves the backup quarterback spot behind starter Jared Goff.
The Lions still have two more preseason games after facing the Falcons. They will hold joint practices with the Miami Dolphins before playing them on August 16. After that, they’ll have one final joint practice and game against the Houston Texans on August 23. These practices and matchups will be key for Hooker to show he can lead the offense if needed.
For now, the quarterback competition is still wide open. But with this start, Hooker has a chance to pull ahead and earn the job.