Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided some optimistic news regarding VFL Hendon Hooker on Monday.
According to a new report from Detroit Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman on Monday, Campbell says that Hooker could be activated off the NFI (non-football injury) list this week so that the rookie quarterback can return to the practice field.
Hooker has been on the Lions’ NFI list since the start of the season but looks to be potentially moving on from that this week. The Lions have been a force in the NFC this season with an 8-3 overall record. But, as NFC North division foe Minnesota proved this year with VFL quarterback Josh Dobbs, the backup quarterback position can make or break a season.
Dan Campbell said the Lions could activate QB Hendon Hooker (NFI) this week so he can practice.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) November 27, 2023
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Hendon Hooker was in Knoxville this past weekend for the Tennessee football regular-season finale against Vanderbilt. The Lions’ Thursday game on Thanksgiving opened up Hooker’s weekend to return to Rocky Top and watch Joe Milton’s final game in Neyland Stadium.
VFL Hendon Hooker returns to Knoxville with a roaring applause from the fans here in Neyland Stadium – @rockytopinsider pic.twitter.com/Tas3uWZngd
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) November 25, 2023
Hooker has been recovering from an ACL tear that happened on November 19, 2022, against South Carolina in Columbia. The injury ended Hendon Hooker’s final season at Tennessee and provided some tough roadblocks during his path to the NFL Draft, but the former Vols quarterback worked hard to get himself back to a good place.
Hooker was taken with the 68th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Lions despite not being able to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl or the NFL Combine as one of the top quarterback prospects in the class.
The Lions’ desire to activate Hooker off of the NFI list has been documented since the start of the NFL season.
The Detroit Free Press’s Dave Birkett wrote in August that the Detroit Lions had plans to activate the rookie quarterback at some point during the season.
“Hendon Hooker could open the season on the non-football injury list at next week’s roster cut deadline, but the Detroit Lions are planning to have the rookie quarterback on their 53-man roster at some point this fall,” Birkett wrote in August for the Detroit Free Press.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL this season with 3,075, less than 300 yards behind NFL leader Sam Howell (3,339).
Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions remaining schedule this season:
- Sunday, Dec. 3 – at New Orleans Saints
- Sunday, Dec. 10 – at Chicago Bears
- Sunday, Dec. 17 – vs Denver Broncos
- Sunday, Dec. 24 – at Minnesota Vikings
- Saturday, Dec. 30 – at Dallas Cowboys
- Sunday, Jan. 7 – vs Minnesota Vikings
