The Detroit Lions invested a third-round pick in Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker before the 2023 season, when there was still plenty of doubt about the viability of Jared Goff as a franchise quarterback. That pick turned out to be one of the worst of the Dan Campbell era.
After throwing a whopping nine passes in the NFL and flaming out after a brutal 2025 preseason, the Lions finally said enough is enough with regards to Hooker. After languishing in the ranks of the unsigned for weeks, Detroit's old No. 2 has another shot at life in the pros.
The New York Jets, who are dealing with injuries to both Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields while starting undrafted rookie Brady Cook, have now signed Hooker to their practice squad. Hooker has familiarity with former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, now the Jets' head coach and offensive coordinator.
Jets sign former Lions QB Hendon Hooker to practice squad
Hooker showed a great deal of promise in college at both Virginia Tech and Tennessee by throwing for 80 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. However, teams were put off by his age (he was 25 in his rookie season) and the simplicity of his collegiate offense with the Volunteers.
When competing with Allen this preseason, Hooker stunk it up, completing just 55% of his passes without throwing a touchdown and tossing three interceptions. Allen was almost out of the league when Detroit signed him, yet he beat out one of Brad Holmes' rare misses in the Top 100.
Hooker, a North Carolina native, was able to latch on with the Carolina Panthers, but even a team that has struggled through some substandard quarterback play in the last few years didn't feel that he was worth keeping around. After his November 4 release, Hooker has now latched on in New York.
Considering how bad Hooker was in his extended action with the Lions, and how the Jets are reportedly very happy with how Cook has handled the offense despite a ton of players injured, it doesn't seem like New York is going to be the place where the embattled former Day 2 pick rubs the Lions' noses in it.