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Hendon Hooker receives major update with Detroit Lions, per report
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Hendon Hooker spent his rookie season in the NFL recovering from his season-ending knee injury at Tennessee. Now, he’s in line to carve out a bigger role with the Detroit Lions.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Lions are prepared to release veteran quarterback Nate Sudfeld. Releasing Sudfeld appears to open the door for Hooker to assume the backup QB job to starter Jared Goff ahead of the 2024 season.
Source: The #Lions are releasing QB Nate Sudfeld, who has spent plenty of time as No. 2 QB. Now, it appears it’s Hendon Hooker who has won the job.
Sudfeld has impressed plenty in practice (without a ton of game reps) and will find his way into a practice squad, at the least.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2024
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During his final season with the Vols, Hooker was an electric performer with over 3,100 yards and completed 69.6% of his passes. Hooker finished the year with 32 total touchdowns and was regarded as a Heisman Trophy contender before a season-ending injury.
Prior to his injury, Hooker was viewed as one of the top QB prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft, but the knee injury undoubtedly took a toll on his prospects. Though he was unable to make an impact in his first season, the Lions saw enough to grab him with a 3rd-round pick.
Hooker has been viewed as the potential QB of the future in Detroit with the ability to learn and develop behind Goff without the pressure to immediately produce. Now, it looks like he’s primed for a key step forward in the process ahead of the 2024 season opener.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
