Lions HC Dan Campbell Complimentary Of Hendon Hooker To Open Training Camp

Hendon Hooker
Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. Photo via @Lions on X.

Few Vol football players in the 21st century are more beloved than quarterback Hendon Hooker. But the first two seasons of Hooker’s professional career have not gone great.

Hooker has attempted just nine career passes but the more worrisome trend is that the Detroit Lions brought in Teddy Bridgewater to be their backup, bumping Hooker to the third string, last season. Hooker is entering a critical third season. Recovering from a torn ACL shortened his rookie season and made it impossible for him to hit the ground running as a rookie. But now entering his third professional year, Hooker needs to show signs of growth.

The good news? Detroit head coach Dan Campbell likes what he’s seen from Hooker to begin Lions’ training camp.

“Look, Hooker knows the deal, man,” Campbell said. “You’re out here to compete. We gave him some things to do while he was home. Talking about working on some of the urgency, the footwork, certainly continued training. Look, it’s only one day but, man, I liked what I saw out there yesterday. There’s an urgency. I thought his footwork was on. I thought he was spitting the plays out.”

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While Bridgewater is not back with the Lions, Detroit brought in veteran backup Kyle Allen to compete with Hooker for the backup quarterback job. According to a report from Detroit Lions on SI, Allen got second team reps and Hooker got third team reps to begin training camp.

Hooker ended last season as a third string quarterback and Allen has more experience, so it’s unsurprising that Hooker is starting camp as the third string. But there’s been buzz around Hooker’s start to training camp with multiple Lions’ reporters commenting on his marked improvement.

The former SEC Offensive Player of the Year played in three games last season, completing six-of-nine passes for 62 yards. Jared Goff is back as the Lions; starting quarterback this season and expectations remain high in Detroit after a disappointing playoff loss in the divisional round last season.

“He knows what it is. It’s time to take the next step,” Campbell said. “It’s his move. I think he’s wired right. It means something to him and so here we go. It’s open camp.”

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