Hendon Hooker quickly embracing opportunity to watch Jared Goff operate the Lions offense

Lions general manager Brad Holmes laid the foundation of first-year expectations for Hendon Hooker, and head coach Dan Campbell built on it by labeling 2023 as a "redshirt year" for the rookie signal caller.

As he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered last season playing for Tennessee, Hooker got a start on getting mental reps at OTAs this week. His first meaningful NFL snaps aren't likely to come until his second season, and a year from now or so he may be ready to push Goff for the starting job.

Hooker made an appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" on Friday. He talked about how his knee is doing, naturally, while saying how he's fully embracing the opportunity to learn as he gets healthy.

Hendon Hooker immediately embracing opportunity to watch Jared Goff work

On his knee:

""ACL's doing good. Just taking it day by day, and just continuing to chip away and stack days," Hooker said during a Friday appearance on "Good Morning Football". "I think one thing that I know for sure is that physically and mentally I've become a lot stronger through this process"

Goff is going to hold down the starting job under center for the Lions this season, barring injury of course. But Hooker is quickly embracing the opportunity, even during OTAs, to learn from the veteran--and he talked about that.

"Essentially, he's an amazing quarterback," Hooker said of Goff. "Just continuing to learn from him and watch him, watching his footwork, watching how he directs traffic, when he's in the huddle, just taking command of the total offense. It's amazing to see him operate, and one day I hope to be on that level and operate as efficient as he does.""

"Amazing" is kind of a weird word to describe Goff. But he should have an advanced command of the Lions' offense, and it should shine through in an OTA practice. That level of control and command is of course a place Hooker wants and needs to get to, if/when he takes the starting job from Goff.