Dan Campbell sets expectations for Hendon Hooker at Lions OTAs (2024)

After a rookie season that iswill go down in history as a 'red shirt year'Hendon Hooker is primed to be the Lions' No. 2 quarterback behind Jared Goff this season. His long-term future in Detroit is up in the air as Goff's contract extension effectively prevents him from playing/starting during his rookie contract, barring injury.

Hooker was added to the active roster late last season, if only so he could get the benefit of continuing to practice. As the Lions move on to the next phase of OTAs, that's certainly how he looked during Thursday's practice open to the media.

Let's get back to how Hooker looked during Thursday's practiceJohn Makaron is at SI.comInJeremy Reisman van Pride of DetroitT.

Hooker showed grit on his throws, but had accuracy issues at times. He connected on a deep ball with tryout signee Kaden Davis, but the ball wobbled in the air and was not among his best efforts. Hooker also had almost an interception by UDFA Loren Strickland while trying to connect with Donovan Peoples-Jones.”

"Later in practice, Hooker demonstrated chemistry withTom Kennedy. With Nate Sudfeld limited in his return after an ACL injury last season, the Tennessee product has taken reps with the second and third teams.”
-John Maakaron, SI.com

Thursday was our first look at Hendon Hooker in a full practice since Detroit dealt with him last year. Personally, I thought it was a very mixed bag from the second-year quarterback. The ball bounces nicely off his hands and he can really make some moves. Zips it up. He caught a few passes along the seam that some rookie quarterbacks probably couldn't connect on a deep shot.

“The biggest question facing Hooker at the next level is his handling skills and on Thursday I saw some of the good and bad with him. On a rebound he took far too long to check the ball to Tom Kennedy, leaving Amik Robinson had time to read the play and almost took it away. On the next play, he read patiently, found running back Jake Funk and placed the ball where Funk could catch it and turn it up.
-Jeremy Reisman, Pride of Detroit

whor* with ups and downs in practice is to be expected, and journalists saw that on site on Thursday.

Some Lions fans would now like to anoint Hooker as a capable backup who can step in and be very good if something happens to Goff. But early in the offseason, no less an authority than head coach Dan Campbell openly acknowledged howthe young quarterback is simply an unknown entity. And honestly, OTA practices without pads aren't going to change that dramatically.

Men viaMaakaron/SI.comOn Thursday, Campbell didn't mince words about what Hooker (although of course) needs to show between now and the end of training camp.

'Yes, he really needs to go a step further'Campbell said. "We have to feel like by the end of camp this guy can run this offense. He can be a, we know, guy, we can play the game with him a certain way. We know he's going to be able to process the information, he's going to get us into the right game and he's going to have to go one step further. The good news right now is that he's getting a lot of reps.

Hooker needs as many reps as he can get, and he'll get plenty as Nate Sudfeld works his way back from a torn ACL last season. But Campbell made it clear that the second-year signal caller needs to capture the No. 2 quarterback spot, it won't be handed to him. That's no surprise.