Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/26
After the final standard gameday practice squad elevations of the 2025 regular season, the three-game elevation limit resets for the postseason, so only players getting signed to the 53-man roster because of the limit will be noted today. Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tejhaun Palmer
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Amani Oruwariye
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Matt Judon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, LB Ty Summers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella
- Placed on IR: LB Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: RB Phil Mafah
- Activated from reserve/PUP: CB Josh Butler
- Signed from practice squad: LB Justin Barron
- Elevated: G Nick Leverett
- Placed on IR: G T.J. Bass, RB Malik Davis, RB Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Zach Horton, OL Chris Hubbard
- Placed on IR: OL Trystan Colon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jakobie Keeney-James, G Lecitus Smith
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, LB Jamon Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, S Kaevon Merriweather
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: QB Seth Henigan, TE Sean McKeon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Patrick Herbert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: LB Jamin Davis, T Dalton Wagner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: S Marcus Maye
- Elevated: G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei
- Placed on IR: CB Nikko Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Sione Takitaki
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Treyton Welch
- Elevated: QB Jake Haener, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner, DT Casey Rogers
- Placed on IR: CB Cor’Dale Flott, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., WR Wan’Dale Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: QB Hendon Hooker, DE Kingsley Jonathan, G Kohl Levao
- Elevated: RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Samuel Womack III
- Placed on IR: RB Isaiah Davis, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, TE Mason Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, S Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Ali Gaye, WR Bryce Oliver
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: TE Cole Turner
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (story), WR Van Jefferson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
The Browns made it known yesterday that they were shutting down Schwesinger and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. for the final week of the season, but the Defensive Rookie of the Year-favorite is the only one to land on IR.
In Dallas, Williams failed to practice this week as he dealt with shoulder and neck issues. With Davis also being placed on IR, the Cowboys will rely on rookie fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and the recently activated Mafah, a seventh-round rookie, in Week 18. The team used their eighth and final IR activation to bring Mafah back for a potential NFL debut.
Because Green Bay didn’t elevate recently signed practice squad quarterback Desmond Ridder, it appears either Malik Willis will be healthy enough to back up Clayton Tune or Jordan Love will serve as the potential QB2 for the Packers in Week 18.
Judon is set to make his Bills debut in the team’s regular season finale after signing to their practice squad two weeks ago.
With Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler not practicing this week with a finger injury, Haener gets the call to back up rookie Tyler Shough.
Hall in Tennessee had already been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation three times this season. In order for him to appear in the Titans’ regular season finale, the move to the 53-man roster was necessary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
Jets To Start Brady Cook In Week 16, Sign Hendon Hooker
Despite impending returns from Justin Fields and/or Tyrod Taylor, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his second straight start in Week 16.
Fields began the season as the starter and seemed to be headed for the bench midway through the season. An injury to Taylor kept Fields in the lineup for a few more weeks, but Taylor eventually took over in Week 12.
With Fields nursing a knee injury in Week 14, Cook stepped into the backup role. Then, when Taylor went down with a knee injury of his own, Cook finished the game, albeit with a 46.7% completion percentage and two interceptions. With neither of the veterans available in Week 15, Cook made his first career start with Adrian Martinez serving as the backup.
Cook completed 22 of his 33 passes against the Jaguars last Sunday, but they only went for 176 yards (5.3 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions after two in his NFL debut the week before. Overall, Cook has completed just 57.1% of his passes with 5.4 yards per attempt and a 44.3 passer rating.
Regardless, the Jets are sticking with the Missouri product for Week 16. Taylor and Fields were limited participants in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but even if one is ready to play on Sunday, they will back up Cook.
Martinez was re-signed by the 49ers earlier this week, so the Jets signed former Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker to their practice squad. The 2023 third-round pick will be elevated to the game day roster if neither Fields nor Taylor are available for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/25
With lots of roster movement surrounding the trade deadline, practice squads needed rearranging, as well. Here are today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Zach Triner
- Released: K Ben Sauls
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Scotty Washington
Buffalo Bills
- Released: LB Jimmy Ciarlo, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Ja’Tyre Carter, RB DeeJay Dallas, S Israel Mukuamu
- Released: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker, T Michael Tarquin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: G Kyle Hergel
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: C Ricky Stromberg
Detroit Lions
- Signed: G Jack Conley
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles, TE Drake Dabney, LB Kristian Welch, WR Michael Woods
- Released: G Lecitus Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Chad Muma, S Trey Washington
- Released: CB David Long Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DE Malik Herring
- Released: WR Jimmy Holiday
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: CB Myles Purchase
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Jake McQuaide
- Released: G Wyatt Bowles
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Clarence Lewis
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Brenden Rice
- Released: RB Jonathan Ward
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Terrace Marshall
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, S Daequan Hardy
- Released: DE K.J. Henry, WR John Rhys Plumlee
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: LB Stone Blanton
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Mac Dalena
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Keydrain Calligan
- Released: CB Alex Johnson
The Texans are bringing Wright on as an emergency option as regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn works through an injury. Wright has plenty of experience in this role as this will be his fourth team this year alone.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan, S Keondre Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: DT Sam Kamara, QB Bailey Zappe
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Jordan Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
- Elevated: WR Jared Wayne
- Waived: TE Brenden Bates
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Cameron Mitchell, DE Durell Nchami
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Hayden Rucci, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: S Richie Grant, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Darius Cooper
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DE Trevis Gipson, OL Nick Zakelj
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Mohamed Kamara
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche
Recently named QB2 Shedeur Sanders found his way to the injury report today with a back injury. By elevating Zappe, Cleveland is ensuring Sanders won’t play tomorrow, since in order to have three quarterbacks dressed for gameday, all three passers must be on the 53-man roster. Zappe will back up Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders will likely be in sweats. Similarly in Carolina, with Bryce Young set to sit this week, Hooker has been called up to back up Andy Dalton.
Both Buccaneers quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater, were on the injury report this week, though neither received a “questionable” injury designation as result of their ailments. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that both passers are expected to be available, but with Bazelak taking up a spot on the active roster, it seems likely that only one other quarterback will be suited up alongside the practice squad callup. Because Bazelak’s not on the 53-man roster, only two passers can be active. Tampa Bay can still designate Bazelak as the inactive third quarterback, but doing so would seemingly be making this elevation moot.
There is no corresponding move necessary for Philadelphia to add Cooper. The team received a two-game roster exemption after signing veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, so they had an open roster spot.
For Basham in Carolina and Jennings in New England, this will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevations. If either of their respective teams want them to play in another game this season, they will need to first be signed to the 53-man roster.
Panthers Add Hendon Hooker To P-Squad
Hendon Hooker‘s second chance will come with Carolina. The Panthers are bringing in the recently cut Lions quarterback, adding him to their practice squad.
The team announced the move, which will stash Hooker behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton — the only two QBs on Carolina’s 53-man roster. The Lions waived Hooker on Tuesday, doing so after Dan Campbell indicated a fresh start was probably necessary after the former third-round pick could not beat out Kyle Allen for the Detroit QB2 job.
Given Hooker’s draft pedigree — as the No. 68 overall pick in 2023 — he stood to earn another opportunity; the Panthers will provide it after waiving two QBs (Jack Plummer, Bryce Perkins) prior to cutdown day. Plummer had spent last season on the Panthers’ P-squad. Plummer finished the season on Carolina’s 53-man roster. As of now, the former UDFA is not with a team.
“Hendon Hooker is a guy that I loved in the process coming out of Tennessee; I had some great meetings with him,” Dave Canales said, via Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt. “He really impressed me as a man, and a really high character guy with a lot of talent. A beautiful motion, big strapping guy who can run.”
Hooker’s pre-draft tour in 2023 included a visit with the Buccaneers during Canales’ one-year stop as Tampa Bay’s OC. The Tennessee-developed prospect, however, was unable to impress despite an extended opportunity with the Lions. Detroit stashed Hooker on its reserve/NFI list in 2023, activating him near the end of that season. After Hooker’s ACL rehab effort, he earned the Lions’ backup job. Near the end of last season, however, the Lions re-signed Teddy Bridgewater — their 2023 backup — and the veteran made a cameo in the No. 1-seeded squad’s divisional-round game. Despite a downgrade to Allen this offseason, the Lions saw Hooker lose a competition to be their backup.
Going unclaimed Wednesday separates Hooker from his third-round contract; he will now be on a practice squad salary. The Panthers will begin to evaluate the 27-year-old passer, who has appeared in three games and attempted nine regular-season passes. During the preseason, however, Hooker committed five turnovers. He was 22 of 40 for 187 yards with no TD passes and three INTs. Hooker, however, shined at Tennessee and crafted a Heisman campaign before suffering the ACL tear in November 2022.
The Lions do not currently have a quarterback on their practice squad, carrying only Allen and Jared Goff at the position.
Lions To Waive QB Hendon Hooker, DL Brodric Martin
5:37pm: The 2023 third round did not go well for the Lions. After playing in just five games from 2023-24, Brodric Martin will be waived, per AtoZSports.com’s Mike Payton. Martin and Hooker each have two years left on their rookie deals.
Chosen 96th overall in 2023, Martin played in three rookie-year games and two 2024 contests. He did not see any playoff action. The Lions did use one of their IR activations on Martin, despite an injury-battered season making those rather valuable, but the team has not gotten much from the pick. Martin could be retained on a practice squad deal if he clears waivers.
3:02pm: Technically given three offseasons to take flight, the Lions’ Hendon Hooker is experiment is over. Detroit is waiving the former third-round pick, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports.
Rehabbing a major injury during his first year in Detroit, Hooker has not progressed to the point the Lions have felt comfortable with him as Jared Goff‘s top backup. Discussing the young QB over the weekend, Dan Campbell signaled a separation was likely.
Campbell said a change of scenery would probably benefit the Tennessee alum at this point, and that will happen. Hooker does not appear a candidate for Detroit’s practice squad. Two years remain on his third-round contract. Hooker, 27, is due just more than $1MM in 2025 base salary. That figure is nonguaranteed, but the former Heisman candidate’s shaky Detroit stint may not make it a lock he is claimed. The Lions would eat less than $600K in dead money if Hooker goes unclaimed. The team will know by 11am CT Wednesday if the QB is claimed.
The Lions will give their backup job to Kyle Allen, who signed a one-year, $1.27MM deal this offseason. Although Allen spent last year as the Steelers’ third-stringer, he outplayed Hooker in the preseason after the latter committed five turnovers during Detroit’s exhibition slate. After the Lions reunited with Teddy Bridgewater to close last season, Allen’s arrival brought another challenge for Hooker.
The Bridgewater move came after Hooker did serve as the Lions’ top backup for most of last season. Hooker played in three games, completing 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards. That represents his only NFL game action, as the former Virginia Tech recruit spent most of his rookie year on the Lions’ reserve/NFI list due to the ACL tear sustained in November 2022. Hooker was mentioned as a candidate to be drafted earlier than he was (No. 68), but he has thus far proven skeptics — due partially to a Tennessee offense that brought questions about the formerly productive passer’s transition to the pros — right to this point.
Detroit does not have a third QB on its roster, making it logical the team will pursue one for its practice squad as the emergency option. The Lions carried Goff, Bridgewater and Hooker to close last season. Allen, 29, is now on team No. 6. He has worked as a backup or third-stringer — and fill-in starter, occasionally — in Carolina, Washington, Houston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
Allen’s most notable NFL work came in 2019, when he quarterbacked a mediocre Panthers team — Christian McCaffrey‘s historic 1,000-1,000 season notwithstanding — to a 5-7 record in his starts replacing an injured Cam Newton. Allen made two more starts with a bad 2022 Texans squad but has attempted one regular-season pass since 2023. Goff’s durability continues to benefit the Lions, but they will likely replace Hooker soon.
Kyle Allen Leading Hendon Hooker In Lions’ QB2 Battle
AUGUST 24: Hooker struggled in Detroit’s final preseason contest on Saturday, connecting on six of 11 passes for 70 yards. He also turned the ball over for the fifth time in the preseason, and Campbell did not mince words when asked whether Hooker would stick on the roster.
“How much development do you believe there is?” Campbell said (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “We’re talking about Hooker right now, how much development do you believe there still is? Sometimes, does the player need a change of scenery?”
It seems Hooker is likely to be waived prior to Tuesday’s deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to 53 players. While he could be stashed on the practice squad if he clears waivers, Campbell’s change-of-scenery comments suggest Detroit may not take that route even if it becomes available.
AUGUST 17: The Lions brought Teddy Bridgewater out of his quasi-retirement last December, clearly feeling the need to fortify their QB room for the end of the regular season and the playoffs. While head coach Dan Campbell tried to downplay the notion that the Bridgewater addition signified a lack of faith in 2023 draftee Hendon Hooker – who had served as Jared Goff‘s backup to that point in the 2024 campaign – Hooker was not automatically returned to the QB2 post this year.
Instead, Detroit signed Kyle Allen in March, and Campbell said a competition for the backup job would commence. At the moment, Allen is decisively winning that competition and therefore appears to be in line to open the season behind Goff on the depth chart.
In the Lions’ preseason game against the Dolphins on Saturday, Allen got the start and completed 14 of 17 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, including a score at the end of a well-constructed two-minute drill (h/t Dave Brikett of the Detroit Free Press).
Hooker, by contrast, completed six of 13 passes for 61 yards and an interception. As Birkett observes, the Miami game represented the third time in three preseason contests – Detroit was one of the participants in the Hall of Fame Game – that Allen has outplayed Hooker, a fact Campbell acknowledged when addressing the media afterwards.
“He’s playing better,” Campbell said of Allen (via Birkett). “So I would say that right now, if you’re saying – if you had to go in with a [QB2] right now, who would you trust more? Yeah, I would trust Kyle more because he’s proven more after these two games. But I’m still – we’re still going to coach Hooker up and we’re still going to see what’s there and see if we can get him better. I mean, we still got a little bit here.”
It is fair to wonder how much another week or so of coaching will improve Hooker’s stock with the organization. Entering the NFL after a November 2022 ACL tear dinged his prospect status, Hooker was the fifth quarterback chosen that year. Rumblings about first- and second-round landing spots circulated before that draft, but the once-surging University of Tennessee QB tumbled into Round 3.
Two years remain on Hooker’s rookie contract, and although he is entering just his third professional season, he is now 27. The fact that he seems to be losing ground to the 29-year-old Allen, who has become a nomadic backup/third-stringer since a 12-start audition in 2019, is a disappointing development.
Campbell went on to say Hooker may get the start in next week’s preseason finale against the Texans. At the very least, he will get an extended look as he fights for his place on the club.
Under Campbell, the Lions have made a habit of carrying only two passers on the 53-man roster.
Lions To Hold QB2 Competition
Becoming the team that took a chance on Hendon Hooker in the 2023 draft, the Lions are still not sold on the former college standout as their entrenched backup quarterback. This view became clear when they brought Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement last year, and a subsequent free agency decision affects Hooker’s standing as well.
The Lions signed Kyle Allen after his Steelers season. While Allen is not a clear-cut backup option for Jared Goff, the Lions will give the 2024 third-stringer a chance to usurp Hooker this offseason.
“Hooker, no different than Allen, are competing,” Dan Campbell said, via DetroitLions.com. “The best way to help guys really reach their full potential is competition. You can say things the best you can to prop them up, but at some point, you just have to go compete and it’s him or you. I anticipate Hooker’s going to compete. That’s what he does.”
Hooker had spent much of last season as Goff’s backup, seeing his first game action during blowouts. The ex-Tennessee and Virginia Tech starter has attempted nine career passes. Late in training camp last year, Campbell said Nate Sudfeld held a lead on Hooker for the backup job. But the Lions still kept Hooker on their active roster and cut Sudfeld before setting their 53-man roster. Allen brings another threat to Hooker’s QB2 status.
Entering the NFL after a November 2022 ACL tear dinged his draft stock, Hooker was the fifth quarterback chosen that year. Rumblings about first- and second-round landing spots circulated before that draft, but the once-surging Volunteers QB tumbled into Round 3. Two years remain on Hooker’s rookie contract, and despite going into only his third season, the former intriguing prospect is 27. This represents an important offseason for a player who had been viewed as something of a project coming into the league.
Allen joined the Lions on a one-year, $1.27MM deal; only $100K is guaranteed, giving the Lions freedom to cut the nomadic reserve while incurring barely any dead money. A former UDFA going into his age-29 season, Allen has made 19 career starts. Many came with the Panthers in 2019, though he also made four starts for a playoff-bound 2020 Washington outfit. Allen is a career 62.7% passer who has averaged a pedestrian 6.7 yards per attempt. He has stopped through Carolina, Washington, Houston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh during his career.
While Lions GM Brad Holmes expressed confidence in Hooker, the Lions’ moves since he came off the NFI list have not reflected it. Barring another Bridgewater unretirement, however, Hooker has another clear shot to win the backup job behind one of the NFL’s most durable players. Jake Fromm is also on the Lions’ roster, but he appears to be the least likely of the team’s non-Goff QB trio to make the team. That said, Fromm spent all of last season on Detroit’s practice squad; he would give the team some insurance if the Hooker-Allen competition produces a player not worthy of a spot on the active roster or the P-squad.
Dan Campbell, Hendon Hooker Address Teddy Bridgewater Signing
Usually, a Super Bowl contender signing a new backup quarterback in Week 17 signals a glaring lack of faith in the club’s usual No. 2.
But Lions head coach Dan Campbell insisted that adding Teddy Bridgewater “doesn’t mean we’re disappointed” in 2023 third-rounder Hendon Hooker, who has spent the season backing up Jared Goff.
“It’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to walk into,” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “We felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well.”
Campbell’s comments could be read as a subtle acknowledgement of the obvious experience disparity between Bridgewater, a nine-year veteran with 65 career starts, and Hooker, a 2023 third-rounder who has played 33 total snaps in the NFL.
Bridgewater has more passing attempts in the playoffs than Hooker has in his entire career. Campbell said that either quarterback could see the field if Goff misses any time in the playoffs and mentioned Bridgewater’s ability to lead the scout team offense as well. Hooker, who has stayed in touch with Bridgewater since his retirement last year, isn’t taking the signing personally.
“I figured Teddy was going to come back here this season,” Hooker said. “I didn’t know when. I knew when his season was over he was going to come back. I mean, we’ve been talking about it since the summer. He’s still my mentor at the end of the day, so any questions I have about life or this game of football or being a pro always seem to lean on Teddy.”
A Lions team that has seen injuries deplete its depth chart at other positions is now further protected at quarterback. While Goff has been one of the NFL’s most durable players during his nine-year career, the experience gulf between he and Hooker likely prompted this reunion. Bridgewater may well return to coaching soon after this season, but he also could be the QB the Lions call on if something were to happen to Goff during the playoffs. That makes this one of the more interesting late-season signings in recent memory.