ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Hendon Hooker provided a blunt assessment of his first preseason performance.
“A zero out of 10,” the Detroit Lions quarterback said. “It wasn’t to my standards, it wasn’t to the team’s standards of just being productive and controlling the huddle and making plays.”
Hooker and Kyle Allen, who are competing for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind starting quarterback Jared Goff, are both looking for vast improvement in the offense’s performance when the Lions visit the Atlanta Falcons on Friday in an NFL preseason exhibition.
Detroit committed five turnovers and generated just 197 yards in a 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game this past Thursday in Canton, Ohio. Allen, who started the game, was 9-of-14 passing for 91 yards but was intercepted twice. Hooker was 3-of-6 for 18 yards and was picked off once.
They’ll switch roles Friday, with Hooker playing the first half and Allen taking over after halftime.
Durability hasn’t been an issue for Goff since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He hasn’t missed a game the past three seasons.
If that streak ends this season, the Lions will need to have a reliable option. They’re looking for either Hooker or Allen to establish themselves as the clear backup.
“I can tell you both of those guys are, it goes without saying, they’re frustrated with the way that went and they both want to improve and get better,” coach Dan Campbell said. “And they will.”
Hooker was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft despite a knee injury suffered late in his college career at the University of Tennessee that turned his rookie season essentially into a redshirt year.
Hooker had 58 touchdown passes and five interceptions in two seasons with the Volunteers in Knoxville. The 27-year-old also spent three seasons with Virginia Tech.
Hooker made three brief appearances last season, going 6-of-9 for 62 yards. This preseason is pivotal to show he was worthy of his draft status.
“Very key. Every play is important,” he said. “So just taking advantage of every play, every throw, every decision, and just putting my best foot forward every time.”
Allen, 29, has bounced around the league since making the roster with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The Lions are the sixth organization he has suited up for and fifth in five seasons. He appeared in one game with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
Allen has made 19 starts as a pro, including 12 of 13 appearances with the Panthers during the 2019 season, when he passed for 3,322 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was sacked 46 times.
The Lions signed him to a one-year, $1.27 million contract with a $100,000 signing bonus in March. The second half against the Falcons gives Allen another extended opportunity to secure his spot on the depth chart.
“Correct the interceptions and the mistakes, play a little cleaner football,” he said after Sunday morning’s practice. “Just keep executing the offense, getting more comfortable in it and take it play by play.”
Hendon has similar goals for Friday.
“We’ve just got to come out and execute,” he said. “Point back, period. No excuses and leave it at that.”