NFL fans rejoice as football-less days are behind us. Over five months have passed since the Philadelphia Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, and now the Detroit Lions take the field against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday.
The preseason opener will be the first Hall of Fame Game for the Lions since 1991. That season was Detroit's first trip to the NFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl era, and Lions fans are hoping that the team at least repeats that success this season.
Preseason games are less about the result and more about how each player is looking on the field. There are still a few ongoing position battles in Detroit that the coaching staff will use the preseason games to evaluate and make a final decision on.
With his decision ahead of the first preseason game, Dan Campbell made it clear who the frontrunner is to land the QB2 role in Detroit.
According to source(s) Kyle Allen will be getting the start for the Detroit Lions tonight..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 31, 2025
We will be seeing Hendon Hooker at some point#PMSLive #OnePride pic.twitter.com/cO8p6jVYI1
Hendon Hooker Is a Preseason Trade Candidate After the Lions' QB Decision
On the Pat McAfee Show, it was revealed that the Lions will have Kyle Allen start under center on Thursday. While Hendon Hooker will get some reps at some point in the game, this suggests that he is behind the veteran in the pecking order as he enters his third year in the league.
This is not a surprising development for fans who have been paying attention this offseason. The Lions signed Allen early in the offseason, partly because the team didn't entirely trust Hooker in the backup QB role. Plus, the reports out of minicamp and the training camp suggested that Hooker wasn't showing enough flashes to get the nod over Allen, who has 19 starts under his belt in his seven-year NFL career.
While Hooker obviously has a chance to shine in the preseason and earn a spot on the 53-man roster, this decision firmly puts him on the chopping block. There will almost certainly be QB injuries around the league throughout the preseason, and when that happens, Hooker will be a target for a handful of teams. Campbell's decision not to start Hooker suggests that the Lions would be open to moving him before the season.