Detroit Lions to start Hendon Hooker in next preseason game, Dan Campbell says
- Lions quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen struggled in their preseason game against the Chargers.
- Hooker will start in the next preseason game against Atlanta, followed by Allen in the second half.
- Hooker self-evaluated his performance against the Chargers as "0 out of 10" but remains confident.
The results during Hendon Hooker’s appearance in a 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday left a lot to be desired.
But they weren't bad enough to dissuade Dan Campbell from taking another long, hard look at him. In fact, the Detroit Lions coach said the plan is for the third-year quarterback to get the start and play the opening half of the team’s next preseason game against the Falcons in Atlanta this Friday.
Veteran Kyle Allen, who is competing with Hooker to become Jared Goff’s backup this season, will then take over for the final two quarters.
Both quarterbacks struggled last Thursday, when Allen received the first crack at running the offense and Hooker relieved him after halftime.
Allen tossed two interceptions while connecting on 9 of 14 pass attempts for 91 yards. Hooker looked even shakier after he entered the game. Only three of the six throws were completed, and one was picked off when Chargers defensive back Myles Purchase wrested the ball away from rookie receiver Dominic Lovett on a deep shot late in the fourth quarter. Hooker, who netted only 18 passing yards, was also sacked twice. On multiple occasions, he bailed from the pocket and scrambled for minimal gains.
Speaking of Hooker and Allen, Campbell said, “It goes without saying they’re frustrated with the way that went, and they both want to improve and get better. And they will.”
Hooker, it seems, will have to make a much bigger leap than Allen.
Pro Football Focus handed him the worst grade of any offensive player on the Lions. Hooker appeared to agree with that harsh assessment.
He said Sunday he rated his own performance a “0 out of 10.”
“It wasn’t to my standards or to the team’s standards of being productive and controlling the huddle and making plays,” he added.
But Hooker, a former third-round pick, vowed he will have a “short-term memory” and seems convinced he will rebound in his next audition.
“I’ll play with that same confidence and swagger,” he said, “and have fun.”
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.