The Hendon Hooker era in Detroit never really got off the ground, and now the young quarterback is turning the page with a new opportunity closer to home. After being waived during final roster cuts, Hooker signed onto the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, giving him the reset he says he needed.
Hooker’s Tough Break in Detroit
Hooker entered this preseason knowing he needed to prove himself. Instead, it was a rough stretch from start to finish. He went 22-of-40 passing for 187 yards, three interceptions, and two lost fumbles, failing to lead the offense to a single touchdown drive.
Despite flashes, like a 25-yard scramble and a couple of sharp passes to Ronnie Bell, inconsistency and turnovers sealed his fate. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell ultimately made the difficult call to release him, with Campbell even admitting Hooker simply needed “a change of scenery.”
A Fresh Start in Carolina
That change of scenery came quickly. The Panthers signed Hooker to their practice squad, giving him a chance to regroup in his home state of North Carolina. For Hooker, the decision was as much about fit as it was about opportunity.
“I just wanted to go somewhere I was wanted,” Hooker explained. “And wanted to develop and learn, and coach told me that he would like me to come learn under him, and we have a great bond from the draft process, just reminiscing on those talks that we had then, I’m eager to learn from him.”
What’s Next for Hooker
Now with Carolina, Hooker doesn’t face the same immediate pressure he had in Detroit. Instead, he gets to develop at his own pace behind veterans, while still having a chance to carve out a future role.
For a player who was once a third-round pick in 2023, the path hasn’t been easy. But with a new start, supportive coaches, and the comfort of being back in his home state, Hooker finally has the chance to do what he couldn’t in Detroit, take a deep breath and grow into the quarterback many thought he could be.
11 Responses
Indeed, he was a 3rd round pick…and before the injury he suffered in college was the leading Heisman trophy candidate. He’s been coached and developed by one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL for 3 years now and yet gets outperformed by journeymen and rookies alike. He came to a team with an entrenched elite QB. I would posit that he had far less pressure to be ready than almost any other drafted QB in that time. If he wasn’t wanted in Detroit, why would they have used a 3rd round pick on an injured QB with less than a season of success at the college level ? This article makes little sense with those inferences to either his performance, pressure or welcome in Detroit. I had high hopes for Hendon and was excited the Lions drafted him. I don’t know what is happening with him but it all appears to be mental or emotional…and I believe Campbell spoke to that when he said Hooker probably just needed a change of scenery.
I agree completely. Under Goff all I think they expected was for him to beat out Allen (which he should have done) and assume the number two spot after three years of training and a pretty good growth he showed last season. Instead he clearly regressed and couldn’t read defenses.
“I just wanted to be somewhere I was wanted?” Perform and you will be wanted.
The guys pushing 30. He’s had plenty of time to learn and develop. When you’re that horrible you get cut.
Sorry he was terrible. Holmes brought him in to compete against Goff. He was also Holmes family friend, according to the Detroit Free Press. Why develop thinking Holmes would hand the job over to him because of their relationship. Lions didn’t seem to want to waive him, Coach Gomer Pyle made statements about him and then pulled him in the middle of the 2nd qtr. But Coach Gomer Pyle was trying to make a statement to Holmes, the kid is shitty. So you wonder, who is coaching the team ? The GM or Gomer Pyle.
Holmes needs to stay the hell out of players outcome, that’s Gomer Pyle’s job. Or is it he doesn’t trust his judgement.
Shut up Goober!
Are you blind, retarded or both? The Lions have never been better and most of it is because of Dan and Brad. We think you are a gomer pile of crap!
Such a brilliant analysis Aunt Bea. Now go make Barney a samich.
He had zero pressure immediately after the draft because of the injury/recovery. He was expected to study and learn in this time, you know develope mentally then grow when physically ready. He didnt, he didn’t grow nor did he develope. I had hopes he’d be our qb2 this season, maybe even challenge for qb1 next year. He’s more a geno Smith. Gonna need more time to mature and learn.
After 3 years of learning from some of the best coaches in the NFL and you are seemingly worse off now than when you first came in with developmental issues , what’s going to be the magic pill to get you turned around ???? At some point you have to realize the NFL life is not for everyone .
Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes arguably are the best coach and GM duo in the NFL. They are also solid character guys and undoubtedly gave Hooker every reasonable opportunity to develop. If Hooker is throwing a bit of shade the Lions way, he obviously hasn’t learned that success is more about taking responsibility for your own growth and development.