Hendon Hooker has a new football home.
It was a bit surprising to begin with that the Detroit Lions cut him. But on Thursday, Hooker officially signed with the Carolina Panthers to join their practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hooker was a quick cutting of ties by the Lions. They drafted him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee to, at minimum, be Jared Goff’s long-term backup.
It didn’t work out.
In the end, Hooker got into just three games with the Lions, all in 2024. He went 6-for-9 passing in that regular season action for 62 yards.
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The Lions have opted to keep Kyle Allen as their backup QB for the 2025 season.
The Panthers will gladly take a chance on Hooker.
They’ve got 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young as their starting quarterback, and after a promising finish to 2024, they’re hoping for big things out of him in 2025.
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Behind Young is Andy Dalton, the Red Rifle, a veteran and proven backup quarterback.
Hooker will get to join that room and try to revitalize his career. He may be able to learn a lesson or two from Young, who had to rebound from a benching to make himself better.
If Young is as advertised, Hooker may never be a starter in Carolina. But it may be the first step toward getting his career off the ground.
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