Quarterback Hendon Hooker's time with the Detroit Lions came to a disappointing end before the start of the regular season, adding on to his forgettable stint in the Motor City. Not only did he not get enough chances thanks to Jared Goff being an iron man, but he also didn't make the most of the opportunities he got in the preseason, leading to his release at the end of August.
The former Lions QB ended up signing a practice squad deal with the Carolina Panthers after losing the QB2 battle to Kyle Allen in Detroit. The fact that the 27-year-old signal-caller wasn't able to land an active roster spot was certainly disappointing, but he may be able to get his chance to shine in Carolina.
Ex-Lion Hendon Hooker May Get a Second Chance with Panthers
On Sunday, the Panthers won their third straight game to improve to over .500 for the first time since 2019. Unfortunately, however, they lost QB Bryce Young to an ankle injury in the third quarter. He twisted his right ankle while taking a sack against the Jets, and was replaced by veteran Andy Dalton. ESPN's David Newton reported that Young was seen in a walking boot after the game, and head coach Dave Canales failed to provide any more details.
The fact that Canales didn't provide an optimistic update or a generic quote like "he'll be fine" suggests that Young's status for Week 8 is in jeopardy.
Young's situation provides Hooker an opportunity. Dalton, who has been with the franchise since 2023, is the favorite to start in Young's absence; however, the veteran signal-caller is about to turn 38 and has limited upside. Hooker will almost certainly be elevated to the active roster if Young can't go and be the backup QB behind Dalton against the Bills in Week 8.
With the Panthers' next two games coming up against Buffalo and Green Bay, Hooker could certainly get garbage time minutes, or a real opportunity if Dalton struggles.
With how far his star has fallen in recent years, this could be as good an opportunity as Hooker can expect to get. Snaps under center are hard to come by for backup quarterbacks, let alone a third-stringer like Hooker. He has to make the most of them if he is given that chance.
Otherwise, his future NFL career will be in serious jeopardy going forward.