Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker was named Player of the Game during the Lions’ 24-23 win over the Chiefs on Saturday.
Saturday’s game represented Hooker’s first career full NFL game. The former Volunteer missed his whole rookie season recovering from ACL surgery and left last week’s preseason-opening game early in concussion protocol.
On Saturday, though, Hooker bounced back and played the entire second half as he led the Lions to a comeback victory. Hooker finished the game with 150 yards on 12-of-15 passing, 11 rushing yards on five attempts, and one rushing touchdown.
Good ol’ Rocky Top@henhook2 | @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/wbhf5NBDcN
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 17, 2024
The former Volunteer entered the game to start the second half with the Lions trailing 16-12. The third quarter was slow for both teams featuring four total punts, but Hooker did lead the only scoring drive on the quarter with a 14-play, 75-yard drive for three points.
Kansas City extended their lead to 23-15 with a touchdown to start out the fourth quarter but Hooker responded with seven points of his own. Hooker took the Lions 70 yards down the field in just seven plays, capping off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle. Former Tennessee cornerback and Chiefs’ sixth-round draft pick Kamal Hadden (No. 17) was also on the field during the play and was blocked in the endzone during Hooker’s score.
Hendon Hooker keeps it for the score 🙌#DETvsKC | 📺 Lions TV Network pic.twitter.com/hor0mVtTWO
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 17, 2024
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Hooker’s touchdown closed the scoring gap to just two points after the failed two-point conversion but the Detroit defense would give the former Vol a few more chances. The Lions forced a Chiefs’ fumble on the seven-yard line and had a field goal, at minimum, within grasp. On third and goal, though, Hooker and running back Zonovan Knight fumbled the handoff to give the ball back to the Chiefs after just three plays.
Detroit’s defense forced a punt after a three-and-out to give Hendon Hooker and the offense 1:44 to work with down two points.
The Lions gained 14 yards off the bat from a Hooker completion and then added five more from running back Jake Funk. Hooker took two kneel downs to get the ball in position before kicker Jake Bates knocked through the game-winning 43-yard score.
Down by four points at halftime, Hooker and the Detroit Lions overcame a late turnover to secure the comeback victory over the reigning Super Bowl champion organization.
Check out highlights from Hooker’s game on Saturday here (video not able to be embedded due to NFL YouTube copyrights).
After the game, Hooker met up with former Vol Trey Smith and former Tennessee teammate Kamal Hadden.
Family🍊 @KamalHadden5 @henhook2 pic.twitter.com/4I50nDlQY9
— Trey Smith (@treysmith) August 18, 2024
