Hendon Hooker begins practicing with Detroit Lions

The Lions started the three-week window on rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker on Wednesday, allowing him to practice with the team.

Detroit can take all of the 21 days to make a decision on Hooker, the former Tennessee Vol who tore the anterior cruciate ligment in his left knee the week before Thanksgiving, 2022. Although he had reconstructive knee surgery, the Lions still used a third-round NFL draft pick on Hooker back in April. Pre-injury, there was a lot of draft buzz that suggested Hooker was a first-rounder.

Now, he’s back on the field, allowing the Lions to see what sort of prospect they drafted.

Lions rookie QB Hendon Hooker practicing for the first time Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/IEBUXmQXhv

— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) November 29, 2023

Coach Dan Campbell hinted earlier this week that Hooker could see the practice field this week. But he wouldn’t say for sure, just in case doctors delayed the decision.

But he explained why it was important to get a rookie back on the field so late in the season.

“Yeah, by rule we can’t coach him, so that’s why,” Campbell said Monday at his weekly press conference. “I mean we can’t – we can have him in meetings, but he can’t be out there and going through any fundamental work. You’ve just got to kind of stand there. So, that’s where it helps, to be able to actually do individual work with him, have him take a snap. That’s why it’s big.

“I mean it’d be nice to just do some of those things with him,” Campbell said. “But that’s why you’ve got to get him on the roster. Otherwise, rules don’t allow for him to do any of that.”

However, it’s doubtful Hooker will play in a game this season. Rookie quarterbacks already are starting everywhere else. There have been 10 to start games this year. That’s an NFL record. But the Lions would need a disastrous run before they’d turn to Hooker. Detroit is 8-3. The Lions travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints this Sunday. Jared Goff is the undisputed starter — there is no QB controversy. And the backups are healthy. Teddy Bridgewater, an NFL journeyman, backs up Goff. Then there’s David Blough, who has been in the NFL since 2019. The Lions signed him to the practice squad in late August for his second stint in Detroit.

Hooker can practice the entire 21 days. But if the Lions choose not to activate him to the 53-man roster, he’ll stay on injured reserve for the rest of the season.