Kyle Allen has quickly rebounded from a rough start to the preseason and is now in strong position to secure the Detroit Lions’ backup quarterback job behind Jared Goff.
After throwing two interceptions in the Hall of Fame Game, Allen has responded with back-to-back impressive outings. His most recent effort came against the Miami Dolphins, where he threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-17 passing. That performance had head coach Dan Campbell praising his poise and consistency.
“He’s playing better right now,” Campbell said when asked about the QB2 battle. “If we had to choose today, I’d trust Kyle more. He’s shown more through these last two games. But we’re still working with Hendon [Hooker] to see how much progress we can get out of him.”
Allen also starred the previous week against Atlanta, finishing with a perfect passer rating while completing 7 of 8 throws for 120 yards and two scores. Over the last two games combined, he’s racked up 244 yards, four touchdowns, and an 84% completion rate.
Although it took him some time to settle in against Miami—his first three drives sputtered due to penalties—Allen eventually found his rhythm. He connected with Jackson Meeks for an 11-yard touchdown to cap his fourth series, then led a flawless two-minute drive before halftime, completing six straight passes and finding rookie Isaac TeSlaa in the corner of the end zone.
Campbell highlighted Allen’s ability to stay composed and bounce back from mistakes as a key reason for his growing trust. “He’s shown great command of the offense,” Campbell said. “He doesn’t panic, he communicates clearly, and he moves on quickly from errors. That’s what you want in a backup.”
Meanwhile, Hooker has struggled to keep pace. The 2023 third-round pick, once seen as a possible successor to Goff, hasn’t yet found his footing. Against Miami, he managed just 61 passing yards on 6-of-13 attempts, with one interception ending a potential late comeback. Across three preseason games, his totals sit at 117 yards, 16 completions, and two picks.
Hooker has been outperformed by Allen throughout camp, even being pulled early against Atlanta after two fumbles. With roster cuts approaching, he faces an uphill battle to hold onto the QB2 spot—or even to secure his place on the initial 53-man roster.
