The Detroit Lions have two preseason games in the books and are no closer to finding out who should sit behind starter Jared Goff. Having a bit of reliability is incredibly important, as Detroit fans learned in the playoffs last season. While Goff was quickly able to return, having Teddy Bridgewater gave the franchise confidence that the veteran could handle a snap or two while Goff was checked for a possible concussion.
Losing your starter for any long period of time is likely going to end your season. However, having a capable second option is still paramount. Especially in a crowded NFC North, the Lions need the ability to survive a game or two if Goff were to suffer an injury. The current options for this role are Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker. Both have struggled early in camp and the preseason.
Allen was especially awful in the Hall of Fame Game before having a bounce back performance against the Falcons. Hooker has been consistently middling, not reaching the lows Allen did in the first game, while still looking out of his depth. Choosing between the player isn't exactly the most ideal. Something Dan Campbell pointed out when he commented on Hooker's performance.
Dan Campbells said Hendon Hooker was pulled before the first half was over because of his two fumbles.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) August 11, 2025
Campbell: "You decide you're gonna be a runner, you gotta tuck it away, man."
Dan Campbell Calls Out Lions Backup Hendon Hooker
Campbell's message was simple when talking about Hooker's performance and subsequent benching, saying, "You decide you're gonna be a runner, you gotta tuck it away, man." This is a fair take, and for the Detroit head coach, obviously critical. What made the performance so upsetting was not it happening once, but the second time, pointing out failure to learn.
One would believe that Hooker's first mistake would demand you protect the football above all else. This not being the case points to a young player who might not be capable of filling the role. Add in Allen's first preseason performance, and it is hard to feel good about either option.
Carson Wentz remains a free agent and would be a fun signing for the franchise. Bringing in Wentz allows you to demote Hooker to a development role as the emergency option and turn the page on Allen. This appears the best path forward if the Lions want to be as prepared as possible heading into the regular season.
For now, the team is continuing to debate which quarterback might give the franchise a better chance in the unlikely event that Goff goes down. A difficult choice that is unlikely to present a clear answer in the final two games of the preseason.