When the Detroit Lions drafted quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round of last year's NFL Draft they knew it was going to be a red-shirt season for him in 2023. Hooker was coming off a torn ACL suffered the previous November, and it was a pick for 2024 and beyond.
Hooker worked his way into scout-team reps late last season and was the emergency third quarterback the last few weeks of the regular season and in the playoffs. As the Lions continue their spring preparations for the 2024 season, Hooker is vying to be Jared Goff's backup this season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Hooker had his best practice of the spring this week on Wednesday.
"I would say yesterday was good to see," Campbell said before Thursday's open practice to the media. "There was some improvement yesterday that we had really been looking for, and you felt a little bit of – there's some development there that was really good to see. Just some of his reads, some of the throws he made."
Hooker was completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 11 games before suffering the knee injury late in 2022. He also rushed for 430 yards with five touchdowns and was on his way to potentially winning the Heisman Trophy if not for the injury.
With veteran Teddy Bridgewater retiring this offseason to coach high school football in Miami, the Lions are hoping Hooker can step up and into the role of Goff's backup this season.
"It's hard to put a timeline on things. Every player grows at a different level and especially at that position," Campbell said. "The quarterback position now, we put a lot on those guys, and he's got a lot. It's a reminder that this is his first spring. This is the first time he's been through spring, it'll be his first training camp. There again, you just need to see growth, so yesterday it was good to see."
Hooker said he's focused on stacking up good days like Wednesday and continuing to grow in this offense.
"Just taking full command of the offense in the huddle and playing loose and having fun," he said after Thursday's practice. "Not really thinking too much and just reacting and playing like my old self."
Hooker said he's gained upper body muscle over the last year and it's changed his mechanics and delivery a bit. Between strengthening his knee, tweaking his mechanics, learning the offense and competing with the veteran Nate Sudfeld for the backup job, there's a lot on his plate right now.
"It's a learning curve," Hooker said. "Jumping in and really taking real reps and navigating through the offense through audibles and checks is a new perspective, but I'm enjoying going through the process."
View photos from Day 5 of Detroit Lions OTA practice on Thursday, May 30, 2024 in Allen Park, Mich.
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Steele Chambers (51) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk (36) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (48) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jalon Calhoun (80) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (53) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Steele Chambers (51) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29), Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Hooker admits there's a big difference between the mental reps he received last spring and actually getting in there and running the show. He joked that one of the biggest things he's had to learn is that sometimes he has to shut his brain off and just play ball. Don't think too much or make too many checks or corrections.
"Just call it and ball it," he said.
It should be a fun summer watching Hooker develop and seeing how the competition between him and Sudfeld, who is returning from a torn ACL he suffered last preseason, plays out.
"Anytime you have a consistent pace, you're stacking days, that's what we're trying to do here," Hooker said. "Just stack these days and get one percent better every day."
