The Detroit Lions welcomed rookie QB Hendon Hooker onto the practice field for the first time this week. Hooker is finally allowed to throw and get on-field coaching now that he’s designated to be activated from the NFI list.
Head coach Dan Campbell likes what he sees of his young quarterback in the first practices.
“Yeah, look it’s good to get him out there,” Campbell told reporters. “I know he’s excited to be able to feel like he’s now a part of the team from his own perspective. That’s hard when you’re limited to, ‘I’m in meetings and that’s about it. Then I go in rehab.’ So, I know he’s excited to be out there.
Campbell continued,
“And look, we’re just in the beginning stages of it, but he’s – you can see just when he throws the ball, why we acquired him. He’s got a poise about him and he’s got a really smooth delivery if you will, tight spiral. But he’s just starting. He’s just starting, but it’s good to get him out there.”
Hooker will remain on the NFI list through the weekend. He was officially ruled out on the team’s final injury reportteam’s final injury report, so Hooker has yet to be activated. That could change in the coming week.