Lions HC Dan Campbell gives massive update on rookie QB

Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that quarterback Hendon Hooker could begin practicing this week for the first time since suffering a torn ACL just over one year ago.

The 25-year-old played three seasons at Virginia Tech from 2018-20 before transferring to the University of Tennessee, where he’d finish his college career from 2021-22.

Hooker was putting together a monster senior season for the Volunteers through 10-plus games last year before going down with a knee injury in a loss against South Carolina. Hooker ended the 2022 campaign with an SEC-best 69.6 completion percentage and 3,135 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions for a conference-high 175.5 passer efficiency rating.

He was first in the NCAA in passing yards per attempt (9.5) and added 104 carries for 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Hooker finished fifth in the Heisman voting and was named the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Despite the serious injury, Campbell and company clearly liked Hooker’s upside, selecting the former Hokie in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

With the Lions in the middle of a chase for their first playoff berth in seven years and tied for the second-best record in the NFC at 8-3, there won’t be any quarterback controversy if and when Hooker is fully healthy. Starter Jared Goff is in the midst of another solid season, posting a career-best 67.9 completion percentage for 3,075 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions and a 96.9 quarterback rating through 11 games.

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