After just nine career regular-season pass attempts in two years, it appears Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s patience with quarterback Hendon Hooker may be wearing thin.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Campbell openly criticized Hooker’s ball security following Friday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, where the third-year signal-caller lost two fumbles. Campbell had originally planned to keep Hooker in for the entire first half, but the turnovers led to an early benching.
“If you’re going to take off and run, you have to protect the football like any running back would,” Campbell said. “That means two hands on it when you move in the pocket or step up. These are the basic techniques we drill constantly.
“He just needs more reps on that,” Campbell added. “Once we clean it up, he’ll get more opportunities.”
Hooker ended the game completing 7 of 10 passes for 38 yards, also breaking off a 23-yard run. Kyle Allen, who replaced him, went 7-for-8 with two touchdown passes and, most notably, no giveaways.
Campbell praised Allen’s sharp play, noting that he produced a flawless 158.3 passer rating and was at the helm for all three Lions scoring drives.
“That was huge,” Campbell said. “He wasn’t supposed to be in until after halftime, but we called his number early and he stepped right in.”
Allen, who joined the team in the spring on a one-year, $1.27 million deal, is expected to serve as a backup. Hooker, meanwhile, is in the third season of his rookie contract.
Regardless, Detroit is counting on not needing either of them often this year. Jared Goff, fresh off a career-best 37 touchdown passes and a top-five MVP finish last season, has started every game since 2021 and remains firmly entrenched as QB1.
