Hendon Hooker lowers shoulder, trucks defender for gritty first down vs Giants

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker can’t only complete passes. He can run over the occasional defender, as well. In the Detroit Lions’ preseason showdown against the New York Giants, the former Tennessee star rolled out and trucked Giants safety Gervarrius Owens to cap off a first-down scramble.

After the play, Hooker stood and thrust his arm forward in celebration. He earned the shining moment. After Hooker’s two standout seasons at Tennessee, the Lions selected him with the No. 68 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

However, Hooker was immediately placed on the organization’s reserve/non-football injury list while he recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in his final season at Tennessee. In December, the Lions removed Hooker from reserve/non-football injury list but he did not see any action.

Now entering his second year at the next level, Hendon Hooker hopes to find a role on the Lions. He is currently listed as the team’s third-string quarterback, behind Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld.

Making his presence KNOWN.@henhook2 with the emphatic first down run 💪#NFLVols | #GBO🍊

📱: Stream #DETvsNYG on #NFLPlus

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— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 9, 2024

Joe Milton III throws 38-yard TD in NFL preseason debut

Hooker wasn’t the only former Tennessee standout who was making plays on Thursday night. During the New England Patriots’ preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Joe Milton III threw a 38-yard dart to JaQuae Jackson to boost the Patriots to a 17-0 lead.

The touchdown was Milton’s first of the NFL preseason. Afterward, Milton was all smiles, landing a chest bump with fellow QB Jacoby Brissett and hitting a stylish handshake with Jackson. For Milton, the touchdown may be the first of many.

After spending three seasons at Tennessee, Milton was selected with the No. 193 overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft. Milton has already garnered loads of attentions for his powerful arm and promising displays at Patriots practices.

In fact, The Herd host Colin Cowherd even claimed Milton has the potential to swipe the Patriots’ starting spot.

“Drake Maye sounds like it’s not going well in New England,” Cowherd said on his show last week. “According to Michael Holley, someone I know, trust and respect, he said, ‘I went to practices, I wanted him to be Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, but what I saw, was the ghost of Mac Jones. He couldn’t do anything right.’ 

“There’s another story that Joe Milton, that Milton has a ‘wow’ factor,” Cowherd continued. “And everybody’s looking and thinking, is the sixth-round guy, better than the first-round guy.”