Former Tennessee Quarterback Hendon Hooker was released on Monday by the Detroit Lions after the team opted to keep Kyle Allen as its backup quarterback. Hooker now has a new teams, as multiple reports say he is expected to sign with the Carolina Panthers as a member of their practice squad. In a 26-7 loss […]
Former Tennessee Quarterback Hendon Hooker was released on Monday by the Detroit Lions after the team opted to keep Kyle Allen as its backup quarterback. Hooker now has a new teams, as multiple reports say he is expected to sign with the Carolina Panthers as a member of their practice squad.
In a 26-7 loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason finale on Saturday, Hooker completed 6 of 11 passes for 70 yards and an interception and ran once for 25 yards. Allen went 5-for-5 for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell alluded to the idea that Hooker would likely be headed for a new home in the coming days.
“Sometimes, does the player need a change of scenery?” Campbell said, according to Pro Football Talk when asked if Detroit would keep Hooker as a third quarterback on roster. “I wish Hooker — and I know he does — would have had a better outing, but you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt,” Campbell said. “It’s not like he was playing with our first (offensive) line out there, or first team skill position, all of that. You take that all into account as well. I thought he was prepared, I thought he was ready, looked pretty calm, and circumstances didn’t work out today, that’s all.”
Hooker will now return to his home state for a fresh start and will have to see what comes from his new opportunity with the Panthers.
Hooker appeared in three games of the Lions last season, completing 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards. He had a long of 21 yards and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt.
Allen has appeared in 31 games over his seven seasons — spent with five different teams — and has thrown for 4,753 yards, 26 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He started 12 games for the Carolina Panthers in 2019 and four in 2020 with Washington.
In the 2024 preseason, Hooker completed 29 of 44 passes (65.9%) for 300 yards, to go with 138 rushing yards. He had two total touchdowns and one interception.
“He knows what it is,” Campbell said of Hooker. “He knows it’s time to take the next step. So it’s his move. I think he’s wired right and it means something to him. So here we go, man, it’s an open camp.”
Category: General Sports
