Lions Preseason Finale: Kyle Allen Dominates, Hendon Hooker Struggles as QB Battle Widens
The Detroit Lions wrapped up their preseason campaign on Saturday, and there’s no longer any doubt—Kyle Allen has seized control of the backup quarterback job.
Allen, the veteran signal-caller, played just one quarter in the loss to the Houston Texans but was electric, engineering the Lions’ only scoring drive with a beautiful 33-yard touchdown strike to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Allen finished the game a perfect 5-for-5 for 66 yards, elevating his preseason total to 26-of-30 passing for 310 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions over the last three games.
After a rocky Hall of Fame Game, Allen has rebounded with dominance, not only in games but also during joint practices, consistently rising to the occasion. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned his third consecutive offensive grade over 83, ranking just behind TeSlaa for the team’s best offensive performance against Houston.
Head coach Dan Campbell praised Allen’s steady ascent:
“This is three games in a row he’s been sharp. You can’t ignore the practices either. He’s just gotten better and better. That drive today was textbook.”
In stark contrast, Hendon Hooker’s stock is falling fast. The third-year quarterback posted another subpar outing, going 6-of-11 for 70 yards and throwing a costly interception. PFF handed Hooker one of the team’s lowest offensive grades—his third sub-50 mark of the preseason. Over the full preseason slate, Hooker completed just 55% of his passes (22-of-40) for 187 yards, three interceptions, two fumbles, and zero touchdowns.
Campbell tempered criticism by pointing to the backups Hooker played with:
“It wasn’t our first-string offense. He was ready, he was composed—it just didn’t come together today.”
PFF Grades & Snap Count Highlights
Top Offensive Performers (min. 10 snaps):
- WR Isaac TeSlaa: 90.4
- QB Kyle Allen: 89.2
- OL Zack Johnson: 74.3
- WR Ronnie Bell: 70.5
- OL Gunner Britton: 66.6
Bottom Offensive Performers:
- TE Zach Horton: 38.8
- OL Giovanni Manu: 47.0
- QB Hendon Hooker: 47.9
- TE Shane Zylstra: 51.2
- WR Dominic Lovett: 51.9
Top Defensive Performers:
- EDGE Nate Lynn: 90.5
- LB Grant Stuard: 85.3
- DL Myles Adams: 79.2
- S Loren Strickland: 78.2
- LB Anthony Pittman: 77.9
Lowest Defensive Grades:
- CB Nick Whiteside: 27.5
- DL Pat O’Connor: 41.3
- CB Allan George: 42.0
- CB Rock Ya-Sin: 42.9
- CB D.J. Miller: 46.5
With roster cuts looming, Kyle Allen has emphatically claimed the QB2 role, while Hooker may be battling for a spot on the 53-man roster. If these trends continue, it won’t just be a depth chart decision—it could define the Lions’ quarterback room all season.
