The Detroit Lions suffered an embarrassing 34-7 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame preseason game this past week, looking unprepared in what is admittedly an unserious exhibition that means nothing.
That said, the poor quarterback play by Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen should concern fans in the event that Jared Goff suffers any kind of injury during the season. While Goff has been mostly consistent and healthy during his career, having a dependable backup signal caller is important, as evidenced by the Kansas City Chiefs using backups in playoff victories multiple times during the last few years when Patrick Mahomes went down.
With a second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons coming up on Friday night, head coach Dan Campbell made a big announcement for the position on Sunday.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell says Hendon Hooker will start Friday night vs. Atlanta. Kyle Allen will play the second half.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) August 3, 2025
Lions HC Dan Campbell Announces QB Hendon Hooker Will Start Over Kyle Allen in 2nd Preseason Game
As reported by Lions insider Nolan Bianchi, Hendon Hooker will be the starting quarterback for Detroit over Kyle Allen, who will play the second half.
Goff is set to sit for the second consecutive week, a potentially curious decision provided the value that these preseason reps will bring. However, the backup battle has been one of the more significant ones during the summer for the organization, so it seems like Campbell wants to get as much tape on Hooker and Allen as possible.
Neither player appears capable of being a legitimate NFL starter. Allen has a history of being at least a decent backup, though, and Hooker was drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft with visions of him potentially breaking through a glass ceiling. His career at Tennessee was exceptional and he has the makings of a quality QB, but injuries and inconsistent play derailed things.
The franchise seemingly wants Hooker to win the job. Even though he labored through a 3-of-6 night with an interception, Campbell is giving him a golden chance here. We'll see if he impresses on Friday but if not, the Lions may be forced to give Allen the backup reins against their apparent wishes.