Not too long ago, the Detroit Lions were stuck in a revolving door at quarterback. Attempts by Joey Harrington, Scott Mitchell, and Charlie Batch to hold down the role of franchise QB fell flat, leaving the team in the NFL’s basement. That all changed when Matthew Stafford arrived and stabilized the position throughout the 2010s. Jared Goff has now picked up the baton and led Detroit to its best stretch since the 1950s.

Goff is firmly established as the team’s starter, but questions remain behind him. One of those questions surrounds a quarterback the Lions took a chance on not long ago — a player now battling to hold onto a roster spot as July arrives.

Detroit used a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Hendon Hooker, who excelled at Tennessee. Over two seasons with the Volunteers, he racked up 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns, and only five picks. Despite tearing his ACL in college, his production and precision piqued the interest of NFL teams and earned him a shot in Detroit.

The Lions have previously bet on injured players (like Jameson Williams in 2022), and Hooker’s pinpoint passing intrigued the front office. But rather than developing quickly, Hooker’s time in the NFL has been underwhelming to this point.

He essentially sat out his rookie year while rehabbing his knee and appeared in three games in 2024. Hooker completed 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards, but all came in garbage time. More concerning: when Jared Goff exited the divisional playoff game against Washington, it was Teddy Bridgewater — not Hooker — who filled in, even though Bridgewater had mostly been retired and coaching high school earlier that season.

Being overlooked for another quarterback is tough, but losing snaps to someone pulled out of retirement adds insult to injury. Hooker’s place on the depth chart became even shakier this offseason when GM Brad Holmes signed Kyle Allen, sending a clear message. Even though QB coach Mark Brunell gave Hooker praise during OTAs, Sports Illustrated’s Vito Chirco raised doubts about whether either backup is truly reliable.

“If Detroit has to rely on its backup QBs for a lengthy stretch, they’re in trouble,” Chirco wrote. “I do think Hooker is better prepared now than last year to step in if needed. But I still think the Lions are taking a risk if they have to depend on either backup.”

Chirco also noted that most NFL teams — about “99 percent” — would be in similar trouble if their starter went down. Still, that doesn’t bode well for Hooker’s case.

He’s already 26 going on 27, having spent several years at Virginia Tech before transferring to Tennessee. Though 2023 was a redshirt season of sorts, it was also a lost chance to build momentum. Even if Hooker outperforms Allen in training camp, the Lions could still explore trades if they lack confidence in their current options.

Training camp looms large for Hooker, and with the season approaching fast, he may be on borrowed time in Detroit as July begins.