One position battle that Detroit Lions fans have been keeping a close eye on is the ongoing competition for the QB2 job between veteran Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker.
For Allen, this is a prime opportunity for him to secure a backup job behind starter Jared Goff after spending last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the circumstances are different for Hooker.
The former third-round pick is on thin ice as he hasn’t shown much up to this point in his career to warrant being Goff’s backup. Hooker missed his entire rookie season in 2023 due to a torn ACL that he suffered in his last year at the University of Tennessee.
Therefore, making last year his first year of getting actual snaps in the preseason and regular season. His performance left a lot to be desired in 2024, hence why Detroit brought back Teddy Bridgewater ahead of the playoffs.
Fast forward to this preseason, and Hooker needs to figure it out fast, or risk being let go in the coming weeks. Based on Lions head coach Dan Campbell's recent comments after Saturday’s preseason game, Hooker might be in trouble.
Dan Campbell on backup QB job:
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 16, 2025
“He’s playing better,” Campbell said of Allen after the game. “I would say right now if you had to go in with a No. 2 (quarterback) right now who would you trust more? Yeah, I would trust Kyle more because he’s proven more after these two games.”
Hendon Hooker Is on the Chopping Block After Preseason Loss to Dolphins
According to Lions senior writer and insider Tim Twentyman, Campbell said after Saturday’s 24-17 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins that Allen is playing better and even admitted he trusts the veteran more as the QB2 because “he’s proven more after these two games.”
That is a damning statement on Hooker’s behalf, who entered Saturday’s game against Miami in the second half and couldn’t get the offense moving. The former third-round pick only led the Lions on one scoring drive, which ended with a Jake Bates’ 33-yard field goal with 4:53 left in the third quarter.
Overall, Hooker completed 6-of-13 passes for 61 yards with an interception and was sacked twice. His performance, or lack thereof, was a far cry from what we saw from Allen. The veteran quarterback was efficient, completing 14-of-17 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked once.
Efficiency has been Allen’s calling card throughout the preseason, completing 76.9 percent of his passes for 335 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. With Allen playing this well, it's a no-brainer why Campbell is leaning towards him over Hooker.
That said, it's not over for Hooker yet. The 27-year-old quarterback still has one more chance to prove himself to the coaches next week in the preseason finale against the Houston Texans.
According to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News, Campbell said that he might give Hooker the majority of the reps in the preseason finale. If that’s the case, Hooker needs to play his best game ever.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell says he might give Hendon Hooker a majority of the reps next week.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) August 16, 2025
Campbell's confidence level in Kyle Allen is very high: "He's done a good job. I do have faith in him."
That means no turnovers, executing plays at a high level with timing, and showing everyone why you were taken in the third round. If he does that, maybe there’s a chance Detroit keeps him around. If not, Hooker could be wearing a different team’s uniform in the coming weeks.