The Detroit Lions’ quarterback competition continues to take shape as the preseason moves along, and Saturday’s performance made it even clearer where Hendon Hooker currently stands. The young quarterback had a difficult outing against the Miami Dolphins, one that raised more questions than answers about his readiness to handle the backup role behind Jared Goff.
Hooker never appeared fully in rhythm throughout the contest. His accuracy was inconsistent, with several throws sailing wide of their intended targets, making it difficult for the offense to sustain drives. Even when Hooker managed to string together a few positive plays, his teammates failed to capitalize. Drops, missed assignments, and poor protection contributed to an overall disjointed performance. Simply put, it wasn’t just Hooker who struggled—the offense as a whole looked out of sync.
It’s also important to note that the coaching staff hasn’t exactly opened up the playbook for him. As the Lions’ third-string quarterback, Hooker is operating within a very conservative offensive scheme. The limited passing concepts provide little opportunity to showcase his arm talent or decision-making under pressure. While this is common in preseason situations, it certainly doesn’t help a quarterback fighting to build confidence.
That confidence, unfortunately, seems to be slipping. Against Miami, Hooker looked tentative, and by the fourth quarter, the weight of the struggles appeared to catch up to him. In a crucial late-game drive with the Lions trailing, Hooker attempted to engineer a comeback. However, instead of tying the game, his pass was intercepted, effectively sealing the Dolphins’ 24-17 preseason victory.
For Hooker, the road ahead is steep. While preseason is meant for learning, he’ll need to rebound quickly if he hopes to remain a serious candidate for the Lions’ backup job.
