After spending over a year waiting to step onto an NFL field, Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker may face yet another delay before returning. The second-year quarterback, who spent his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL sustained during his final season at Tennessee, made his debut in the team’s 14-3 loss to the New York Giants in their preseason opener on August 8. Despite showing potential in limited action, Hooker was forced to leave the game due to an injury.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell later revealed that Hooker had suffered a concussion and would be out for an indefinite period. “Obviously, he’s in the protocol,” Campbell stated, according to the team’s official website. “He’ll be evaluated. I don’t know how long it’s going to be. He got his bell rung. Obviously, we would have loved to get more time with him, but that’s one of those things that happens. I think on one of his runs there.”
Campbell also cautioned Hooker about adjusting his playing style. Hooker was effective on the ground during his debut, rushing four times for 34 yards, but he took some hard hits, including one play where he lowered his shoulder into a Giants defender. Campbell warned that in the NFL, quarterbacks need to be selective with the hits they take, advising Hooker to slide more often if he intends to use his legs.
Hooker is expected to secure the No. 2 spot behind starter Jared Goff this season and has received praise for his progress in early practices.
In addition to Hooker’s injury, the Lions also suffered other setbacks in their preseason opener. Defensive lineman David Bada sustained an Achilles injury, which reporter Justin Rogers suggested could be long-term. Offensive lineman Connor Galvin suffered a knee injury that ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported would be season-ending.
As Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News noted, the Lions have recently been hit hard by injuries on their offensive line. Offensive guard Netane Muti was placed on injured reserve on August 1 due to a shoulder injury suffered in training camp, prompting the Lions to sign lineman Jake Burton from the UFL’s Michigan Panthers.
