Former Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker cannot catch a break. Not even with an injury-riddled Arizona Cardinals, missing QB1 Kyler Murray and needing a backup to Jacob Brissett. Jeff Driskel was signed instead.
Driskel is now on his 10th new team, with this being his second run in Arizona. He played for Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon two years ago during the latter's first year in charge. One can argue that this is a Ben DiNucci-like signing with a low ceiling for the Cardinals. And yet, it was still preferable to Hooker.
Hooker was just released by the Carolina Panthers from their practice squad, failing to usurp Mike White, who may well be the Tom Brady of DiNucci's, as QB3. White was memorable for notching a few wins for the New York Jets and outdueling Zach Wilson for the starting job for a few weeks.
White is also someone you should be able to outplay in 2025. And Driskel is someone who shouldn't be a preferred free agent option. But here we are, with the current situation leaving Hooker on the outside looking in.
Ex-Lions QB Hendon Hooker May Not Have Many More NFL Chances
Hooker doesn't have a promising trajectory right now. Very quickly, he's being proven to be incapable of sticking in the league. It's his third year, and Hooker is already flaming out from practice squads.
In the NFL, it's tough to make an impression as a quarterback if there's a perceived fatal flaw before you even take your first snap. For Hooker, his torn ACL in his final collegiate season, playing for the Tennessee Volunteers against the South Carolina Gamecocks, will always have front offices skeptical. And in his case, the former Lion needed to make a case sooner than later, but didn't.
Now, every season that passes, he's more and more of a written-off flier and less a potential answer; depreciating value, like accelerated falling sand in an hourglass.
There are only so many more chances for Hooker in the NFL. And his margin for error is practically nonexistent. The UFL will be there for at least one more season as a potential landing spot, but that option will only survive if fans invest in spring football. Thus far, it's been an uphill battle for the USFL and XFL, hence, the merged UFL.
Wherever Hooker lands next, the Greensboro, NC native needs to make it count. He already went back to his home state and didn't work out. Perhaps the Tennessee Titans can bring him back to the Volunteer State for the nostalgia. There aren't exactly an abundance of fits, though.
Lions fans will closely monitor his situation, thought, wondering if Hooker will ever prove why he was drafted 68th overall two years ago in the first place.