The Hendon Hooker era with the Detroit Lions is finished.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday the Lions have waived the former third-round quarterback. The move comes with Detroit trying to narrow its roster down to 53 players ahead of the league’s roster deadline at 4 pm ET Tuesday.
The Lions moved on from Hooker two days after his Week 3 preseason appearance Saturday. Hooker completed six of 11 passes for 70 yards with no touchdowns and an interception versus the Houston Texans.
NFL pundits project Jared Goff and Kyle Allen to be the team’s top two quarterbacks to begin the season. With the release of Hooker, the Lions will likely not have a third signal-caller on the 53-man roster to start the campaign.
After the preseason finale Saturday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed the possibility of Detroit moving on from Hooker.
“Look, I wish Hooker, and I know he does, would have had a little bit better outing,” said Campbell.
“But it’s also, you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt. It’s not like he was playing with our first O-line out there or first-team skilled positions, all of that. You take all of that into account as well. I thought he was prepared. I thought he was ready. He looked pretty calm. Just circumstances didn’t work out today.”
The Lions drafted Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He made three appearances for the team during the 2024 season.
Lions Moving on From QB Hendon Hooker
What the Lions would do with Hooker before 2025 has been a discussion point around the team’s quarterback room and roster for months.
Woodward Sports Network’s Sean Balligan strongly argued on July 3 that Hooker wouldn’t make the Lions 53-man roster after the preseason.
The Lions have yet to announce any roster cuts as official. But the team’s decision to part with the 27-year-old quarterback could have as much to do with the entire roster than it does with his play.
“Maybe there’s room to grow. Okay, well is that worth it for the depth that we need at O-line, D-line, receiver, DB,” Campbell said Saturday while discussing Hooker and all roster decisions the team faces. “And so, those are all things you’ve got to weigh.”
Hooker Could Get ‘Change of Scenery’ With Another NFL Team
Campbell made one other notable comment while discussing Hooker on Saturday.
“How much development do you believe there is. Alright. Because look, we’re talking about Hooker right now,” said Campbell.
“How much development do you believe there still is. Sometimes, does a player need a change of scenery?”
Campbell didn’t directly state Hooker needs a change of scenery, but it appeared implied. That’s what the quarterback will get should he receive another opportunity with a different NFL team this fall.
The Lions drafted Hooker at No. 68 overall in the third round just two and a half years ago. Detroit selected Hooker despite the fact he suffered an ACL tear five months before the draft.
Hooker didn’t played and participated in practice only at the end of the season in 2023.
In three games last season, Hooker completed six of nine passes for 62 yards. He also rushed for two yards and had one sack.
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