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.
I don’t think any reasonable person thinks it’s weird for a Super Bowl contender to make sure they have a backup QB with more than nine career pass attempts, especially when a veteran the team knows and everyone likes is right there.
Being a Bears fan means I never have to be reasonable…lol.
Not only that, but after seeing what happened to the 49ers in the 2023 NFC Championship Game (2022 season) as a coach I do not go into the playoff without having 3 QBs game ready. This signing makes sense and the timing makes sense. This gives Teddy a chance to get up to speed on the playbook and any new audibles/calls ahead of the playoffs. Campbell is likely going to avoid the long rest of players like some coaches have done which has led to hangovers in the playoffs because they haven’t played a game in 3 weeks. But I could see him pulling Goff in the 3Q, unless a game is close, allowing Hooker and Teddy to have some game reps to get them ready.
Frankly the NFC North looks ready for the playoffs at the QB spot. Lions have Goff with Hooker and Bridgewater ready to jump in. Vikings have Darnold (I never thought I would say that as a positive) with Mullens and Rypien on the roster (not the strongest back-ups but serviceable) and Daniel Jones is still on the PS for them so they have 4 options. And the Packers have Love and Willis with Clifford on the PS and in case of an absolute emergency they have Alex McGough at WR (PS) who used to be QB and has been in QB room last year.
Lions have Fromm on PS as well, for what it’s worth.
After watching what happened to 49ers couple years ago when Garapollo went down, another QB went down, they turned to Purdy and had to sign Josh Johnson then in the playoffs they lost Purdy to that elbow injury and Josh Johnson went down with the concussion forcing Purdy back in who couldn’t throw every team should carry 3 QBs into the playoffs esp veteran ones. Give them a few weeks to learn the playbook just in case.
You have to respect and love Hookers attitude. His day will come.
Hear me out:
Jets get: Hendon Hooker, Jameson Williams, picks
Lions get: Garrett Wilson
Nah. I think the Jets will try to see what they have in Jordan Travis before they acquire other young developmental QBs. It wouldn’t be wise to draft one, at least not in the early rounds, once Sanders and Ward are off the board. Then again, I’m a Jets’ fan, so I’m used to them doing things that are unwise.
Trade is more so about getting value out of Wilson who’s probably not signing a long term extension. They get a decent replacement in Williams who’s antic probably are wearing thin on Detroit.
Hooker gives them a QB option as a former 3rd round pick. Him and Travis can battle it out in camp.
They’ll probably bring back Rodgers but personally move on clean house eat dead money on guys like Lazard.
How many 1st round picks are the Jets including in this trade because I’d take Jamo over Wilson 100 times out of 100.
You want a guy who’s gonna give you 17 games or a guy who’s gonna give you 7 games cause he keeps getting suspended?
I’m taking Jamo
He’s a TD threat every time he touches the ball. And his “issues” are not work ethic, effort, attitude, etc. They are dumb decision making and immaturity, which will sort itself out in time. The perception of ppl outside Detroit seems to be he’s some sort of cancer or primadonna, when he’s way closer to that of a Hines Ward than he is a Terrell Owens–especially when you consider he’s one of the best blocking WR on a team that includes Tim Patrick and Amon-Ra St Brown
Jets pass. Williams is suspended as often as he looks like a star. There’s no current indication that Hooker is worth anything.
Jets fans overvalue Garrett Wilson. Don’t be surprised when he gets traded for a 3rd round pick in the off-season.
Wilson won’t like being a WR2 behind Amon Ra as far as targets.
Wilson plays a significant number of snaps out of the slot where the Lions already have a better receiver in Saint Brown playing. It’s not a fit.
surprised no team has tried to go after hooker. kid needs a chance somewhere
He has off-field issues apparently
He’s supposed to be a great guy off the field. He’s also a 26 year with an ACL tear and 9 pass attempts since college, where he ran an offense that isn’t anything like an NFL offense.
Off the field issues?
You’re just making stuff up lol.
His only “issue” is a devastating knee injury that took until 1/2 way thru his Rookie year for him to even step on a practice field.
Combine that with leaving an offense in Tenn that does not translate to the NFL at all and there’s a long learning curve for him. He’s been Active for barely 20 games, a little over one season.
He’s shown and displayed zero attitude about his position on the Lions. Which shouldn’t be surprising–if he was being a malcontent already it’d be the first Holmes draft pick to do so since he became GM
That’s a straight up lie. There have been zero reports of Hooker having any off-field issues.