Detroit Lions rookie Hendon Hooker will start season on non-football injury list

The Detroit Lions have a plan for their rookie quarterback in 2023. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hendon Hooker will start the season on the non-football injury list.

Hooker sustained an ACL injury near the end of the 2022 college football season. The former Tennessee star is still recovering and Detroit has no plans of rushing the process for the rookie.

Detroit placed Hooker on the NFI list ahead of training camp. The designation means the quarterback must sit out the first four weeks of the NFL‘s regular season but could return any time after.

As the #Lions prepare to start the season, rookie Hendon Hooker will begin the season on the non-football injury list, source said, as he recovers from an ACL tear in college. No rush, with DET taking it slow with their No. 68 selection.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2023

“We’ve got our training staff, our strength coaches that take him through a workout, and it’s really scripted,” coach Dan Campbell said in training camp, per SB Nation. “And so it’s our plays, it’s our reads and so he goes through the drops, makes the play-call, goes through the drops, throws, and then has his sprint and he takes it down the field.”

The Lions selected Hooker with the No. 68 pick in the third round of the NFL Draft. He proved to be one of the top quarterbacks in college football last season, leading Tennessee to an 11-2 record, including an upset victory over Alabama.

In two seasons at Tennessee, Hooker threw for 6,080 yards and 58 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He maintained a 68.9% completion rate over his two years with the Vols.

Hooker proved to be a force on the ground, too. He rushed for 1,050 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground while at Tennessee.

Hendon Hooker gave early impressions of Lions

The transition from the college game to NFL can be a tough one for rookies. But Hooker seems to be enjoying his new adventure in Detroit.

Earlier this year, Hooker talked about the competitive nature throughout the team. It’s giving him a lot of confidence about the goals the Lions have for 2023.

”It’s very competitive,” Hooker said. “Very competitive. I love it. The energy and just the attention to detail on a daily basis is incredible. Whenever we get out on the field, it’s a whole other level of competitive nature.

“From the coaches, the players, you can just tell that everyone cares and wants to get better day-to-day.”

Detroit opens the 2023 season with a tough opponent, playing defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City. Kickoff is Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8:20 p.m. ET. Coverage comes from NBC.