Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker had a solid performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
Hooker, who made his NFL preseason debut last week against the New York Giants, completed 12-of-15 passes for 150 yards in the Lions’ 24-23 preseason win against the Chiefs. He also rushed for 11 yards and a touchdown (the first touchdown of his NFL career).
The former Vol played against the Chiefs after getting cleared from the concussion protocol (Hooker entered the concussion protocol after Detroit’s preseason game against the Giants).
After the game, Lions rookie wide receiver Isaiah Williams called Hooker a “soldier” and a “great leader” ( via The Detroit News).
“We just know he’s a special player, and even when plays break down — maybe the receivers don’t get open — we know, ‘OK, he can get 5. He can get 10,'” said Williams about Hooker after the Lions’ win against the Chiefs. “At the end of the day, we know Hendon’s a playmaker and he’s a great leader.”
Hooker is currently battling Nate Sudfeld for the No. 2 quarterback job in Detroit. Sudfeld played more snaps against the Chiefs than Hooker, completing 14-of-27 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception.
The former Vol is currently playing behind Sudfeld, but Hooker seems well-positioned to pass the veteran in the battle for the backup quarterback job before the start of the 2024 season. It’ll be interesting to see how snaps are divided between the two in the Lions’ final preseason game next Saturday (against the Pittsburgh Steelers).